Turkish folk dances

Turkey has a rich collection of folk dances with dances performed on all occasions, from weddings and celebrations held to young men enlisting in the army, to national and religious festivals, or local festivals.

Each region has its own dances that reflect the cultural life of that region. Some of the most famous dances are Bar, originating in Erzurum province, Halay in the East and Southeast, Hora in Thrace, Zeybek in the Aegean, Horon in the Black Sea and Kasik Oyunu in and around Konya.

Some typical dances are as follows:

ZEYBEK

In this Aegean dance, male dancers wear colorful clothes, called Efe, which symbolize courage and heroism. In general, the Zeybek dance has many different tempos such as very slow, slow, fast and very fast. Zeybek can be danced by one or two people or danced in groups

HORON

Horon is a very special dance from folk dances in other parts of Turkey with its formation of tempo, rhythm and manner. This is a typical Black Sea dance, performed in groups with black costumes combined with silver decorations. The dancers linked their arms and swayed to the vibrations of the kemence, a primitive violin.

HALAY

Halay is an integral part of the treasure trove of Turkish folk dances and is performed on a large scale in East, Southeast and Central Anatolia. This is one of the most outstanding dances with rich symbolic structure, simply a symbol of folk creativity and originality. This dance is a combination of all the movements and rhythmic elements of Turkish folk music.

BAR

Bar is a form of folk dance from eastern Turkey. Dance performed by outdoor groups. Turkish folk music is applied with very different and interesting structures in this dance.

KILIC KALKAN

Bursa's Kilic Kalkan is a dance that tells the story of an Ottoman expedition. It is performed only by men, dressed in early Ottoman-era combat attire, who dance to the clashing sound of swords and shields without music.

HORA

Hora is a type of wedding music that has a melodic and rhythmic structure, with fast tempo facing each other and the different cultural structure of the area. This dance is an integral part of Turkish folklore and is still performed at weddings today.

KASIK OYUNU

Kasik Oyunu is a popular dance from Konya to Silifke region. This dance is performed by brightly dressed male and female dancers dancing to the rhythm of the dance with a pair of wooden spoons in each hand.

These typical folk dances create a unique culture that attracts tourists during festivals in Turkey.