THE PROJECT TO SAY, “NO TO DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION” MUSIC AND DANCE TO STOP DISCRIMINATION

What are the Turkish folk dances?

Folk dances that feature the characteristic of society give us information about our past and our future as a form of cultural identity. It also provides social and individual development. What are the folk dances with different melodies, rhythms, movements and different names? Let’s see:

Hora: The general name of the folk dances are played in the Thrace region. In Greek, Horos, khoros, choros mean “play (dance)”. Hora games are very fast rhythmic and convoluted. Foot steps are front plan. Çanakkale, Çatalca, Edirne, Siliv ri and Kırklareli are the places where Hora is also played.

Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria an d Balkans Turkish folk dances which are out of Turkey also gets included in this category.

Some of the most known games that can be given as example are; butcher's mood (kasap havası), bride groom (gelin damat), arzu-Camber and Zigosh.

Zeybek: is plays in the Aegean, South Marmara, Inner West Anatolia, Lake Region and Western Mediterranean regions.

The emergence of Zeybek is all about grape harvest festivals. Events such as wine, wine drinking, grape crushing are celebrated and aggrandize with different feasts, festivals and dances in the ancient ages at Anatolia.

It is attributed to the imitation of the grape crushing ritual of why the feet perform more in the Zeybek game. As well as a collection of accessories pinked and trimmed that the Zeybeks have attached to their heads; grape, grape leaves etc. known to symbolize things.

Spoon Dances: is played starting from Konya, Antalya’s eastern provinces and Eastern Mediterranean. The outfit of the dance called “Silifke”.

Spoon dances may include mountain themes which has accordance with Yoruk and Turkmen culture.

Horon: a folk dance of the eastern and middle black sea coastal region. It has accordance with Greek word “horos (χορός) ” which translates as dance. The first record of it in Turkish is made by Bahr’ür Garip and made for a dance of Rumi women in 15th century. Halay: ”Bozkır halays” are played in East of Mid Anatolia; “east halays” are played in East and South East regions and “Çukurova halays” are played in Çukurova.

Dancers hold each other with their small fingers. Halay is played with music which is played by drum (davul) and clarion (zurna). In Kurdish; hilayi or halayi which means ”get up and dance”.

Bar: is played in North-East Anatolia and inner Artvin. Most commonly it is played in Erzurum, Erzincan, Gümüşhane and Bayburt.

These dances which is called Bar holding is similar to “halay” but arms and hands moves are more important. Melodies are more slower than Halay.

Caucasian dances are the common name of the dances played in Ardahan, Kars and Iğdır. Each dances tells epic stories which have deep impact in community.

Is played in special days such as weddings and bayram.

The dance is played softly and politely. Women and men wear various outfits. Turks, Cherkes and Chenchens are also play this dance.