Chechnya’s Dance: Reviving tradition after the war

Chechnya’s Dance: Reviving tradition after the war

Filmmaker: Masha Novikova After the second Chechen war, when separatists sought independence from Russia, famed dancer and choreographer Ramzan Ahmadov used traditional folk dance to preserve the Chechen Republic’s history. Through Daymohk, a family-run song-and-dance ensemble, he taught children to become ambassadors for peace by offering a sense of pride in Chechen culture. Soon, Daymohk caught the attention of Chechnya’s newly installed pro-Russian leader. While winning favour meant prominence and safety for many Daymohk families, they also remembered the hands by which they suffered. In the stifling atmosphere of contemporary Chechnya, Ahmadov collaborated with the authorities to save his country’s tradition.