Guest
Circassian Amazon demonstrates her dressage skills (шыгъэджэгу), Nalchik (Kenzhe), Kabarda, 2017. From the programme “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” («Дыгъуасэ, Нобэ, Пщэдей»), produced by Marina Yelhqen (Елъкъэн Маринэ), 2017. Circassian Dressage Equestrian competitions (шуджэгу; shujegw) were occasions for the village horsemen (and horsewomen) to show off their riding skills. Two special forms of dressage, “shiqafe” (шыкъафэ; literally: horse-dance) and “shighejegw” (шыгъэджэгу; literally: making the horse dance), were, and still are, crowd favourites during festivals and wedding ceremonies. Both steed and rider revelled in the attention and high praise. Songs and melodies were written and composed by Circassian minstrels on equestrian themes, including special dressage tunes to suit the choreography and accentuate the skill of horseman / horsewoman and dancing horse.
