"Lezginka — the philosophy and soul of Dagestan": Dzhambulat Magomedov specially for the National Centre RUSSIA
Lezginka is a special philosophy and part of the life of the Dagestani people. This dance embodies patriotism, the soul of the region and its centuries-old history. Artistic Director of the Academic Honoured Dance Ensemble "Lezginka" and member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art of the Russian Federation Dzhambulat Magomedov spoke about this in an interview with the Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA.
Each region of Russia has its unique symbols and values. For Dagestan, such cultural heritage is lezginka — a dance that embodies the spirit, traditions and identity of the people.
"Lezginka is rooted in the traditions of almost all the peoples of the Caucasus. But we proudly say that its homeland is Dagestan. For us, it is crucial that everyone dances it: boys and girls, adults and children. In every family, parents want their child to know how to dance lezginka. It reflects our traditions, our origins. It carries patriotism, the soul of the people, its history," said Dzhambulat Magomedov.
According to him, lezginka has become a kind of brand, since this dance cannot be confused with any other. He stressed that lezginka has never copied other dances and has always "followed its own path".
"This is not just a dance — it is a special philosophy and a way of life. Lezginka is the heritage not only of Dagestan, but of all Russia. And what is especially gratifying is that this dance is also of interest in other regions. In Moscow, St Petersburg and many other cities, young people of different nationalities are learning to dance lezginka. Among them there are many Russian boys and girls. This brings peoples closer together, unites them, turning everyone into one big family," emphasised the Artistic Director of the Academic Honoured Dance Ensemble "Lezginka".
He shared that this year an elderly admirer of the "Lezginka" ensemble from Japan sent them a letter of gratitude. In response, the ensemble’s management decided to send him a cherkeska, a papakha and dance shoes. According to Dzhambulat Magomedov, the Japanese admirer turned out to be a true fan, in love with the Caucasian dance and the culture of Dagestan.
"Dagestan is multinational, and this allows us to draw on rich folklore material for dances and costumes. We are still looking for inspiration in traditions: we open the chests of our great-grandmothers, take ancient patterns and adapt them for the modern stage. This gives the ensemble the opportunity to remain itself, to remain lezginka — friendly, international and multifaceted, like Dagestan itself," noted Dzhambulat Magomedov.
Historically, lezginka was performed at folk celebrations, weddings and welcoming guests, being not only an element of art but also a way to express respect, joy and unity. The musical accompaniment is based on rhythmic melodies that set the dynamics and pace of the dance.
Today, lezginka is widely represented in both folk and stage culture. It is part of the repertoire of many professional ensembles, performed at international festivals, and continues to live on in the family and social traditions of the peoples of the Caucasus.
From 2 to 7 September, the National Centre RUSSIA is hosting the Days of the Republic of Dagestan within the framework of the exposition "Region 2030. Platform of the Future". Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the region: taste national dishes, attend workshops, listen to traditional music, and purchase the best goods from local producers in the Department Store.
The exposition "Region 2030. Platform of the Future" is located on the second floor of Pavilion No. 7 and is open daily, except Monday, from 10:00 to 20:00. Announcements of special guided tours, workshops and meetings with regional representatives will be available on the website russia.ru in the "Events" section and on the social media accounts of the National Centre RUSSIA.
Event photobank
The event was held during the Republic of Dagestan Days and became part of the region’s cultural programme.
The central theme of the meeting was the image of Dagestan in 2030.
