Besim Zekthi, dancer, choreographer, “Merited Artist”, was born in Tirana. He finished the artistic lyceum “Jordan Misja” and was ranked among the first dancers of the Philharmonic. His talent shone as a soloist in the “Vallja e shpatave” from Aram Khachaturian’s ballet “Gayane” (1954). With the establishment of the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, he became a soloist of the dance group. In the 60s of the 20th century, he showed outstanding individuality in the dances: “Vallëzimi i shqipeve” (“The dance of the eagles”), “Vallja e gështenjave” (“The chestnut dance”) etc., in which, as in many others, he danced full of charm and temperament. His virtuoso play was also shown in other major dances: “Festë të madhe ka Shqipëria” (“Albania has a great feast”), as well as in the choreographic ballad “Luftëtarët e lirisë” (“Freedom fighters”), where with his height and penetrating gaze he sculpted the general figure of the mountain fighter. Besim Zekthi is the author of dozens of choreographic creations, among which the “Vallja e Librazhdit” (“The dance of Librazhdi”), winner of the first prize in the May Concerts (1971), stands out. He passed away in Tirana, in 2020. He received the Republic Award of the second degree; he was decorated with the order “Grand Master”, as well as with the title “Honour of the Nation”. (In the photo: Besim Zekthi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2984.
Photo: © https://www.classlifestyle.com/news/44169/ndahet-nga-jeta-ne-moshen-84-vjecare-besim-zekthi-mjeshtri-i-valles-popullore-shqiptare/eng/
Graphic processing: AHCF
