Lezginka or Lezghinka (Russian: лезгинка, Ossetic: тымбыл кафт, зилгæ кафт, Lezgian: лезги кьуьл; Karachay-Balkar: стеме, Azerbaijani: ləzg) is a national dance of many people in the Caucasus Mountains, It derives its names from the Lezgin people; nevertheless, Georgians, Chechens, Lezghins, Ossetians, Circassians, Karachays, Balkars, Abkhazians, Kabardins, Ingush, Ingilos, Azerbaijanis, Iranian Azerbaijan, Mountain Jews, the Russian Kuban and Terek Cossacks and the various ethnicities of Dagestan such as the Avars, Dargins and Kumyks have their own versions.
It has a very fast percussive rhythm with a melody on either accordion or reed instrument. In recent years the lezginka has been mixed with western dance styles such as house, trance and hip-hop.
Lezginka can be a solo, couple or group dance. Men and women are dressed in traditional costumes; men wear a sword adorned on their side and women in long, flowing dresses. The man, imitating an eagle, dances in quick, concise steps; falling to his knees and leaping up quickly. The woman dances quietly, taking light, small steps—giving the appearance of her floating around the floor. When the dance is performed in pairs, the couples do not touch; the woman acknowledges the man, and dances discreetly about him.
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