Tamzara
Encyclopedia
Tamzara, Tamsara, Tənzərə or Tanzara is an Armenian
, Assyrian, Azerbaijani and Greek folk dance native to Anatolia
. This dance was especially popular in the regions of Erzincan
, Erzurum
, Kiğı
, Arabkir
, Elazığ
, and Malatya
. There are many versions of Tamzara, with slightly different music and steps, coming from the various regions and old villages in Anatolia. However, all Tamzara's have the unique 9/8 Evfer rhythm, with the two accented beats at the end of each measure. In addition, the melody to most Tamzara's is very similar, though there are exceptions. Like most Anatolian folk dances, Tamzara is done as a "line dance
" or "circle dance
", with a large group of people with interlocked pinkies. However one version of the Tamzara is done by a man with one or two women standing shoulder to shoulder facing the same direction with their arms around each others waists.
Legend has it that the dance was brought to Anatolia by the Ancient Assyrians
during there conquest of the region in the Assyrian empire in commemoration to the god of food and vegetation Tammuz.
An Armenian-American variation of the Tamzara, invented in Fresno
, California, involves two lines of people facing each other, partners being the people opposite each other. Tamzara is one of the most popular Armenian folk dances to have been preserved in the United States by the Armenian-American community.
The meaning of this dancing, which is famous in the villages of Charchibogan, Chomakhtur and other villages of Sharur
region, is “Gizili tanbatan” (Half golden) in word by word translation and today Tanzara is included to the repertoire of the folklore dancing collectives respectively. The women dancing used to put on all kinds of golden things, dressed luxuriously–including rings, ear-rings, bracelets, chains etc. and those women resembled beauty and sparkling. The name of Tanzara, one of the ancient dances of the Azerbaijan people, is connected with this. Tanzara means- half gilt, half decoration. This dancing is played by the folklore dancing collective of the Vaykhir village cultural house joining their little fingers. Firstly they step three steps ahead and strike their left feet on the ground and then they put their left feet ahead and for a while stand on it, then they make three little steps back and speed their actions a bit more in the second part with the actions of the first part.
Armenian dance
The Armenian dance heritage has been one of the oldest, richest and most varied in the Near East. From the fifth to the third millennia B.C., in the higher regions of Armenia, the land of Ararat, there are rock paintings of scenes of country dancing. These dances were probably accompanied by...
, Assyrian, Azerbaijani and Greek folk dance native to Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. This dance was especially popular in the regions of Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
, Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
, Kiğı
Kiğı
Kiğı is a town and district of Bingöl Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The mayor is Coşkun Güven .The district has a population of 3.188 out of which 1.604 live in the town of Kiğı.-External links:*...
, Arabkir
Arabkir
Arapgir Arapgir Arapgir (also Arabkir, Arabgir, Arapkir is the name of a town and district of Malatya Province, Turkey. As of 2000 it had a population of 17,070 people. It is situated in the confluence of the eastern and western Euphrates river, but some miles from the right bank of the combined...
, Elazığ
Elazig
Elâzığ is a city in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey and the seat of Elâzığ Province. It has a population of331,479 according to the 2010 census, and the plain on which the city extends has an altitude of 1067 metres....
, and Malatya
Malatya
Malatya ) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province.-Overview:The city site has been occupied for thousands of years. The Assyrians called the city Meliddu. Following Roman expansion into the east, the city was renamed in Latin as Melitene...
. There are many versions of Tamzara, with slightly different music and steps, coming from the various regions and old villages in Anatolia. However, all Tamzara's have the unique 9/8 Evfer rhythm, with the two accented beats at the end of each measure. In addition, the melody to most Tamzara's is very similar, though there are exceptions. Like most Anatolian folk dances, Tamzara is done as a "line dance
Armenian line dance
The Armenian Line dance is an Armenian folk dance, danced at parties and other special occasions. It is performed by a group of people who join hands and do a specific step while walking counter-clockwise. Please note that this is just one variation of many different types of line dance...
" or "circle dance
Circle dance
"Circle dance" is the most common name for a style of traditional dance usually done in a circle without partners to musical accompaniment.-Description:...
", with a large group of people with interlocked pinkies. However one version of the Tamzara is done by a man with one or two women standing shoulder to shoulder facing the same direction with their arms around each others waists.
Legend has it that the dance was brought to Anatolia by the Ancient Assyrians
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
during there conquest of the region in the Assyrian empire in commemoration to the god of food and vegetation Tammuz.
An Armenian-American variation of the Tamzara, invented in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, California, involves two lines of people facing each other, partners being the people opposite each other. Tamzara is one of the most popular Armenian folk dances to have been preserved in the United States by the Armenian-American community.
The meaning of this dancing, which is famous in the villages of Charchibogan, Chomakhtur and other villages of Sharur
Sharur
Sharur is an rayon of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.-History:Sharur formed part of the territory of the Nakhichevan Khanate until its abolition in 1828. In the Russian empire it was made a part of the Armenian Oblast. After the oblast was abolished, it became a part of...
region, is “Gizili tanbatan” (Half golden) in word by word translation and today Tanzara is included to the repertoire of the folklore dancing collectives respectively. The women dancing used to put on all kinds of golden things, dressed luxuriously–including rings, ear-rings, bracelets, chains etc. and those women resembled beauty and sparkling. The name of Tanzara, one of the ancient dances of the Azerbaijan people, is connected with this. Tanzara means- half gilt, half decoration. This dancing is played by the folklore dancing collective of the Vaykhir village cultural house joining their little fingers. Firstly they step three steps ahead and strike their left feet on the ground and then they put their left feet ahead and for a while stand on it, then they make three little steps back and speed their actions a bit more in the second part with the actions of the first part.
External links
- Armenian Tamzara by Karin Folk Ensemble
- Authentic Tamzara from Historical Armenia performed by Armenian Folk Dance Society. The Armenian Folk Dance Society performed at the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair in New York.
- Greek Tamsara,Tamzara
- Armenian Davul-Zurna Tamzara (2) sample
- Armenian Tamzara by Richard Hagopian, Fresno California