Foreign tour activity of the ensemble “Lezghinka” as one of the factors of cultural relations of the USSR with the East countries in the 1960s (based on the materials from the print media)

The paper analyzes an extensive tour activity of the state academic dance ensemble of Dagestan «Lezghinka» across Eastern countries in the context of cultural relations development. Based on archivial sources and materials of the periodical press, the authors emphasize that in the 1960s the ensemble became a tru representative of people’s diplomacy, carrier and popularizer of multinational culture of the country. The role of «Lezghinka» in the promotion of the folk choreographic art, general humanitarian values during each tour is noted. The usage of fundamental multi-factor approach has allowed us to draw the conclusion that the ensemble having become a representative not only of Dagestan but also of the whole country plays an important role in smoothing military and ethnic conflicts, clearly indicating its position, carrying the banner of peace, friendship and solidarity between people.