Makhachkala, January 25, 2012. In February, the team of Dagestan State Academic Dance Ensemble "Lezginka" will pay a visit to Italy to take part in the annual festival of Russian culture "Cultural mission. St. Petersburg - Venice". This long-term international project, the idea of which belongs to Svetlana Medvedeva, the wife of the President of the Russian Federation, has been organized by the Fund of social and cultural initiatives in conjunction with the Directorate for International Programs, the Association "Venice-Russia" with the support of Mayor of Venice and St. Petersburg government. The project is implemented under the auspices and with the personal participation of Svetlana Medvedeva.

The Ensemble "Lezginka" for several years has been working closely with the Foundation for the socio-cultural initiatives. According to the director of the ensemble Jambulat Magomedov, Dagestan team performances in Italy under the auspices of the Foundation have become traditional.

"Lezginka" has been honored to represent Russia. The ensemble will give three performances in the elite theaters of the city and will take part in the gala concert at the central Piazza Venezia.

The Ensemble creative Director also said that "Lezginka" had been announced as the best Russian dance team visited the United States in 2011. In America, the team toured for 25 days and gave about 17 performances. The special prize - the layout of the original Statue of Liberty was presented to the ensemble at the solemn awarding ceremony at the Russian Embassy in the United States.