Folk Dance of Turkey

Turkey is known for its sophisticated culture that reflects in various dances. These folk dances are standard at wedding ceremonies, national and regional festivals, meetings like the ferfene, yaren talks and many more. Frequently, the dances are in open areas, but they can be shown in closed areas as well. Here, people enjoy themselves, exploring the wide variety of dance moves from different regions. The standard form of dances you can come across is the line dance. Generally, there are numerous flock dances which are performed inconsistently to reflect the rich culture from every region. These dances include the Halay from the East and Southeast, Konya and Leziginka where the Horon dominates the area; the Hore is from Thrace, Zeybek from Aegean and Bar from Erzurum. Their costume and way of presentation are imposing for any curious mind.

History of the Folk Dance in Turkey

Without a glimpse of the Ottoman Palace, the history of the Turkish dance is never complete. At the beginning (the sixteenth century), the dances started as saloon dances which were seen in ceremonies and celebrations for the rulers of Europe. The Hippodrome was a typical stage to most spectacular performances in the Ottoman times. Here, villagers from around the palace came to perform their dances. Given the different cultures from the various districts, the dances grow separately with each region presenting different dancing skills. Despite Westernization becoming a massive part of the significant changes in Turkey, they still preserve their culture by ensuring their dance is a part of their lifestyle. Moreover, in turkey, dance is analyzed as a cultural element, where people go to dancing schools to learn these dances. Here are dominant Turkish dances you can come across from the rich culture in Turkey.