Kurdish dance
Encyclopedia
Kurdish dance is a group of traditional hand-holding dance
s similar to those from the Balkans
, Lebanon
and Eastern European countries. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of the dancing circle. According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam
, Kurds
sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthday
s, New Year
s, Newroz, marriage
and other ceremonies. Its noteworthy that these folkloric dances are mixed-gender which distinguishes the Kurds from a few other neighbouring Muslim
populations.
fighting against cruelty in Zangi
joy and happiness in Garyan, etc..
The dancers, hand in hand, are depositories of centuries of revealed culture in Halparke that indicates their unity in history. These movements differ in different parts of Kurdistan from the variety point of views, and joy and worry have their own special place. Some kinds of these rhythms wear out and are forgotten through the passage of time. Kurdish people from Kurdistan mainly dance the helperke, it is more easier and the simplest.
The rest of dancers are called Gawaní. Sometimes Gawaní is also primarily called to the last dancer of the circle. This line of dancers differ from many ages. You can have 3 years old and 83 year olds in the same line at a party.
Some Kurdish dances have various and numerous versions such as following:
The Geryan version is a fast motive dance. In the Dilan version, the dancers on the circular path consist, usually, of alternating men and women holding hands and colourful handkerchiefs called desroke, in a semicircle, and moving around the circle with the leading and trailing persons waving their kerchiefs in elaborate motions. The leading individual often accentuates the customary steps and motions for the dance by displaying more energy or even by adding to the standard moves some of his own personal liking
. Chapi comes from the word "chep" or "chap" meaning "left". It is one of the more simple Kurdish dances. It consists of stepping forward on the left foot twice and then stepping back on the right foot twice while traveling in a circle. Sepe is similar to chepi but with motion towards the center of the circle and hitting the right foot roughly to the ground. There are also other variations used by Kurds, each dialect has its own form. Depending on location, some dialects have even the same dances, but in different directions.
, Kurds were mixed into the culture and certain aspects of this dance have been inspired from Kurdish
traditions (such as the Kurdish Dance
) and added to the dance to create what we know now.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
s similar to those from the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Eastern European countries. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of the dancing circle. According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam
Encyclopaedia of Islam
The Encyclopaedia of Islam is an encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies. It embraces articles on distinguished Muslims of every age and land, on tribes and dynasties, on the crafts and sciences, on political and religious institutions, on the geography, ethnography, flora and...
, Kurds
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
s, New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
s, Newroz, marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
and other ceremonies. Its noteworthy that these folkloric dances are mixed-gender which distinguishes the Kurds from a few other neighbouring Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
populations.
Roots of Kurdish dance
Kurdish dances reflect samples of Kurdish life over the past thousands of years. Rhythmic and elegant movements (originating from historical record, geographical location, the Kurdish way of living, beliefs, work and struggle, war and quarrel), are called called Halparke (or Helperkê/Hilperkê in Kurdish alphabet). Halparke has got its special place in Kurd's culture in a way that knowing about that needs the deep and valid slight of the viewers to watch the dancers' singing and giving thanks in Hosharfighting against cruelty in Zangi
joy and happiness in Garyan, etc..
The dancers, hand in hand, are depositories of centuries of revealed culture in Halparke that indicates their unity in history. These movements differ in different parts of Kurdistan from the variety point of views, and joy and worry have their own special place. Some kinds of these rhythms wear out and are forgotten through the passage of time. Kurdish people from Kurdistan mainly dance the helperke, it is more easier and the simplest.
Variations
In every dance one dancer falls or comes to the head of the circle whom is called 'Serchopí', holding a colorful or symbolic object in his/her right hand. It is a tradition that no one take his/her place until he/she leads the dancers group at least one circle.The rest of dancers are called Gawaní. Sometimes Gawaní is also primarily called to the last dancer of the circle. This line of dancers differ from many ages. You can have 3 years old and 83 year olds in the same line at a party.
Some Kurdish dances have various and numerous versions such as following:
- DilanHalayHalay or Yalli is a popular dance in the Middle East....
- Sepe
- Chapi
The Geryan version is a fast motive dance. In the Dilan version, the dancers on the circular path consist, usually, of alternating men and women holding hands and colourful handkerchiefs called desroke, in a semicircle, and moving around the circle with the leading and trailing persons waving their kerchiefs in elaborate motions. The leading individual often accentuates the customary steps and motions for the dance by displaying more energy or even by adding to the standard moves some of his own personal liking
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
. Chapi comes from the word "chep" or "chap" meaning "left". It is one of the more simple Kurdish dances. It consists of stepping forward on the left foot twice and then stepping back on the right foot twice while traveling in a circle. Sepe is similar to chepi but with motion towards the center of the circle and hitting the right foot roughly to the ground. There are also other variations used by Kurds, each dialect has its own form. Depending on location, some dialects have even the same dances, but in different directions.
Belly dancing
Belly dancing has deep roots from Arabs, but there too is a fusion with the Kurds. In the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Kurds were mixed into the culture and certain aspects of this dance have been inspired from Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
traditions (such as the Kurdish Dance
Kurdish dance
Kurdish dance is a group of traditional hand-holding dances similar to those from the Balkans, Lebanon and Eastern European countries. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of the dancing circle...
) and added to the dance to create what we know now.
See also
- Kurdish cultureKurdish cultureKurdish culture is a group of distinctive cultural traits practiced by Kurdish people...
- Assyrian dance
- Debke (a form of Arabic dance)