Lifestyle

Saydulla Madaminov – Life of a veteran

Published

3 years ago

September 15, 2022

The 4th Commander of Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces, a 3rd, 2nd, 1st class of military pilot with a ‘Pilot Sniper’ badge, a squadron leader, serving as the Commander of the 735th Aviation Regiment, or doing international visits as Commander of the Uzbek Air Force to Turkey, US, Russia, UK, and Italy, Colonel Madaminov has it all have the title of a veteran. He has experienced the scent of what the Air Force Mission truly circumscribes.

Saydulla Abdukuddusovich Madaminov is a retired colonel of Uzbekistan who also served as the 4^th commander of Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces from 2001 to 2003.

Born to be in the Air Force

Saydullah Madaminov was born in 1957, in Osh, Kirghiz SSR. His career, life, and battles have set a list of achievements and have made him an inspirational role model for generations to come in the Air Force.

He received his education from Yeisk Higher Military Aviation Institute (EVVAUL) from 1974 to 1978. He was sent to the Transbaikal Military District upon graduation, where he joined the 23rd Air Army, first at Step and then at Dzhida in 1980. In 1982, he was promoted to flight commander. In 1983, he got transferred to Brand Airbase in East Germany to join the GSFG. By 1987, he rose to become a squadron leader.

Undeniable contributions

Saydullah earned an additional military degree from the Gagarin Air Force Academy in Monino from 1988 to mid-1991. After successfully acquiring his second tertiary degree. Saydullah, as a powerful force, didn’t stop there; there was still more to come for him. He then continued his Soviet Military Service at the Turkestan Military District. Then came the summer of 1991, when he arrived at the Khanabad Air Base and became the Chief of staff and the First Deputy to the Commander of the 735th Aviation Regiment. After the collapse of the USSR, by 1993, the Soviet Military Authority went downhill in Uzbekistan, ultimately leading to the appointment of Saydullah as the Commander of the 735^th aviation regiment, which in August of 1995 was re-named the 60^th Aviation Regiment of the then newly formed Uzbek Air Defence Forces. The freshly established Uzbek military was re-arranged. Khanabad Air Base became the most extensive air force base in the country.

Cementing the legacy

The mid-90s saw the emergence of the Tajik Civil War, which embroiled the Uzbek Air Force; Colonel Madaminov successfully carried out over 120 sorties targeting the Islamic extremist. Then in the late 90s, he participated in military operations, successfully neutralizing the IMU fighters who had taken over some mountainous areas in the northern Surxondaryo and launched an incursion into the Batken and Osh regions of Kyrgyzstan.

In March 1999, the Ministry of Defense transferred Saydulla to the capital Tashkent, where he was promoted to the Deputy Commander of the Uzbek Air and Air Defence Forces. In October 2001, by decree of President Islam Karimov, Colonel Madaminov was appointed the Commander of the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces. He executed that role until late 2003. After that, his journey as a senior military advisor and inspector for the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan began. Saydullah retired from the Military in August 2007.

Colonel Saydulla had received Medal “For Distinction in Military Service” and “Jasorat.” He received the “Shon-Sharaf Order,” or The Order of Glory, for his devotion and courage in defending the country and strengthening Uzbekistan’s defense and national security.

Throughout his career, he has mastered aircraft including L-29, L-39, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-23, Su-7, Su-17, Su-24, An-26, and Yak-42. He has taken 10,274 flights and spent total flight hours of 4072 during military service and 770 in commercial aviation.

Legacy Continues

After retiring from the military, Saydulla turned to civil aviation. He worked as a Yak 42 Captain for Tulpar Air from 2011 and 2013. Initially, he was located in Kazan but later relocated to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Before fully retiring from all aviation work and moving back to Uzbekistan, Saydullah became the Deputy Head of Gosaviandzor for the North Caucasian Federal District in 2014. He worked from the Mineralnye Vody Airport and held that position until late 2021.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

3 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.