The well-known dancer, Besim Jazexhiu passed away at the age of 76. The news was announced by the National Theater of Opera and Ballet through a post on Facebook. Jazexhiu passed away on the evening of July 3.

Jazexhiu started his artistic career in art in the genre of acrobatics and is one of the first Albanian acrobats. In 1959, he was sent to study in the Soviet Union and in 1961 he began working as a professional dancer at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. This was the beginning of his career as a professional dancer. During this period, in addition to dancing in the ballet troupe, he performed characters in various ballets such as “Halili and Hajria”, “Delina”, “Laurenca”, “Fadeta”, “Petja and the Wolf”, etc. In the years 1965-1968, he performed at the military service in the Army Ensemble as the first soloist of the dance group and then, from 1968, soloist in the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, where in addition to working as a soloist, he also performed the duties of choreographer and the Artistic Director. In addition to level interpretations, where individuality and authenticity stood out, Besimi has also been distinguished for the use of drum during various dances. 

Throughout his artistic career in the Ensemble he has performed dances from all parts of Albania. Member of the Artistic Council, of the commissions in four folklore festivals with the task of choreographer in several commissions of the Decades of May.

During his career as a choreographer, Besim Jazexhiu created around 20 creations, different dances with the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances as well as with many amateur groups of different enterprises, such as dances with dibrane motifs, “Dances with motifs of Tirana”, “Dances of Lezha” Dance of Leskovik”, “Bride of Guilt”, “Dance with North motifs”, “Kosovo motifs”, “Assets of Ali Pasha”, “Dance of Arbëresh” and many others.

He has a long artistic life of 40 years, from 1954 to 1997. After the 90s, his contribution also extends to Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, as well as the areas where Arbëresh people live in Italy. During his artistic career, he was honored with certificates of honor, medals, first prizes and the Order “Naim Frashëri” class II”.

/Klara Ruci/