Makhmud Esambayev | |
|---|---|
Махьмуд Эсамбаев | |
 | |
| Born | (1924-07-15)July 15, 1924 Starye Atagi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | January 7, 2000(2000-01-07) (aged 75) Moscow, Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, ballet master, choreographer, actor |
Makhmud Ḣelasoltiyn voḣ Esambayev[a] (15 July 1924 – 7 January 2000) was a Soviet and Chechendancer,ballet master,choreographer andactor.[1] Makhmud was regarded as one of the most famous dancers of theSoviet Union.[2]People's Artist of the USSR (1974) andHero of Socialist Labour (1984).
Makhmud was born inStarye Atagi,USSR to aChechen family. When he was a child, his father would take him to village weddings where he would perform dances. At the age of fifteen, Makhmud joined the Checheno-Ingush Song and Dance Company, and at nineteen, he joined theoperetta theater ofPyatigorsk, where he would give concerts toRed Army troops fighting inWorld War II.
In 1944, he was deported along with other Chechen people during theDeportation of the Chechens and Ingush, an ethnic cleansing of Chechen and Ingush people by the Soviet forces.
Years later, Makhmud joined theKyrgyz Theater of Opera and Ballet [ky] as asoloist, where he played the lead role in productions ofSwan Lake (playing the part of Von Rothbart),The Fountain of Bakhchisarai andThe Sleeping Beauty.
After the rehabilitation of the Chechen people and gaining the right of return, Makhmud was elected more than once to theSupreme Soviet of theChecheno-Ingush ASSR, theRussian SFSR, and theSoviet Union.
Makhmud was known for always wearing hispapakha hat, calling it "my crown" and not even removing it when meeting with ahead of state. His papakha made an unparalleled and very conspicuous presence on the floor of the Soviet legislature. On noticing it, theSoviet leaderLeonid Brezhnev would murmur that "Makhmud is here, it's time to call the session open."[3]
He died of natural causes on 7 January 2000.
He was a recipient of theHero of Socialist Labour andPeople's Artist of the USSR awards.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ovation | ||
| Preceded by 1996 Edita Piekha | Living Legend Award 1998 Makhmud Esambayev | Succeeded by 1999 Valery Leontiev |
