Traditional dance demonstrated in new youth show Lezghinka Battle

This unusual contest, called The Lezghinka Battle, was held for the first time at the all-Caucasian youth education camp Mashuk-2010. held in Pyatigorsk, the Stavropol territory, south Russia

Contestants built a round wooden stage in the center of the camp especially for the dance competition. Every evening, as soon as the educational sessions finish, lezghinka fans gather around it to watch the dancers.

Artyom Borisov, organizer of the event, said anyone can participate in the contest either as part of the team or individually. But there are some rules: the team should not be made up of more than four people, and only three can be on the stage during the dance.

The dancers are given one and a half minutes to show their stuff, after which the spectators vote for their favorites with applause and shouts.

The dancers are mostly from the Caucasian Republics, where Lezghinka is a national dance. Still, some people from the Stavropol Territory take a shot during the 20 minute warm-up before the competition.