Dance of the Anatolian Circassians by Nalmes (Solo Part)

Dance of the Anatolian Circassians or locally known as Sheshen is a very popular Circassian dance performed in every wedding and celebration ceremony. Its origin is not known clearly, but modern versions are inspired by Circassians living in Turkey. It has a moderate pace although there are some faster versions mixed with Lezginka in some regions.

Every couple performs the dance inside a wide circle surrounded by the crowd and guests. Couples take the floor one by one and show their skills to the community. The man needs to do his best to get the woman's attention and the crowd's appreciation. The other men in the circle encourage and support him during the dance with cheers and chants. Although there are some basic elements, custom improvisations are very important. Performers should not repeat other people's patterns and they have to be creative because individual compositions are seen as a signature for the person. Like all other Circassian dances, the dance duration depends on the woman and keeps going on until she decides to finish it. It's accepted a very rude behavior if the man leaves the scene first.

Nalmes' choreography is much longer than this video but this is the original part that shows the traditional figures and pace. You can see the various full versions of Nalmes' composition at the following links:

https://youtu.be/dkqxCG8M9qo?t=2240
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSABKRyDWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=333MmIIHw5c

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