Circassian dance Islamey by Nalmes | Нальмэс: Бжьэдыгъу Ислъамей

Many Adyghe dances resemble birds in flight. Thus, the drawing and plasticity of the Islamey dance resemble two eagles soaring in the sky. There is a legend about a young man named Islam who was taken to a dance circle (ceug) with a girl he was in love with. Thinking about how to express his feelings, he imagined the eagles circling in the sky, as if in a dance. Imitating their flight, he began to move quickly and smoothly in a circle, spreading his arms like wings. The girl adjusted herself to him, repeating his movements. This is how the beautiful lyrical dance “Islamey“ was born.