Turkish folk dance
Turkish folk dances reflect a complex, sophisticated culture.
Turkish folk dances reflect the country’s location at the crossroads of three seas and major trade routes, which has produced a varied and layered culture. Most of these dances are line dances, and they come in many regional styles. Well-known examples include Zeybek and Teke Zortlatması in the Aegean region, Bar in Erzurum province, Halay in central, southern, eastern, and southeastern Turkey, Hora in Thrace, Horon in the eastern Black Sea area, Spoon dances around Konya, and Lezginka in Kars and Ardahan.
**Bar** Bar dances are performed outdoors by groups, mainly in eastern Anatolia (Erzurum, Bayburt, Ağrı, Kars, Artvin, and Erzincan). Dancers stand side by side, linking hands, shoulders, or arms. Men’s and women’s bars differ. The main instruments are davul and zurna, with clarinet later added for women’s bars. Common time signatures are 5/8 and 9/8; 6/8 and 12/8 also appear. The aksak 9/8 pattern, typical of Turkish folk music, takes on unusual and interesting forms here. Dancers wear costumes and perform with pride, turning their hands as they hop.
**Halay** Halay refers to folk dances widespread in eastern, south-central, central, and southeastern Turkey. Their rhythms and choreography vary widely. They are usually played with davul and zurna, but also with kaval, sipsi, çığırtma, or bağlama, and sometimes accompany folk songs.
**Horon** The term horon comes from the Greek word *choros* (dance). These dances are traditional to the Black Sea region and are circular, with short, distinct steps. While some associate Horon with Laz culture, its exact origins are not definitively established as a pagan Laz practice in mainstream folklore sources. It differs sharply from other Turkish folk dances in tempo, rhythm, and meter. Performed mostly in groups, its characteristic time signature is 7/16. Because the melodies are very fast, they are hard to play on many instruments, so davul and zurna are practical. A small zurna called *cura* is used, and in inland areas, instruments like bagpipe and mey appear. Other meters include 2/4, 5/8, and 9/16.
**Zeybek** Zeybek dances are common in western Anatolia, originating from the Zeybeks of the Aegean region. They can be performed solo, in pairs, or in groups; in central Anatolia they are sometimes called *seymen*. Most zeybek dances use 9/8 meter and vary in tempo from very slow to very fast.
- Field
- Folk dance
- Nationality
- Turkish
- Known for
- Line dances, regional diversity, use of davul and zurna
Lore & Background
Turkish folk dances are performed in various ways across Turkey. Bar dances are performed by groups in the open, spread over eastern Anatolia, with characteristic side-by-side formation and hand, shoulder, and arm-in-arm positions. Woman and man bars differ. The principal instruments are davul and zurna, with clarinet later added to women's bar dances. Dominant measures are 5/8 and 9/8, with occasional 6/8 and 12/8. Dancers wear costumes and dance with pride, turning their hands as they hop.
Halay is a term for folk dances performed largely in Eastern, South-central, Central, and Southeastern Turkey. These dances have diverse rhythmic and choreographic elements and are mostly performed with davul and zurna, as well as kaval, sipsi, çığırtma, or bağlama, or with folk songs. Horon, deriving from the Greek word choros, is a dance style of the Black Sea region, circular in nature with distinct short steps. Its origins are not definitively attributed to a specific pagan Laz practice in mainstream folklore sources.
Reader's Guide
Turkish folk dances are significant as a reflection of Turkey's complex and sophisticated culture, shaped by its geography facing three seas and straddling important trade routes. The variety of dances—from the line dances of Bar and Halay to the circular Horon and the solo or group Zeybek—demonstrates the cultural diversity across regions. These dances are not merely entertainment but are tied to local identities, historical traditions, and social practices. The use of specific instruments like davul and zurna, and distinct rhythmic measures such as 5/8, 7/16, and 9/8, highlights the musical sophistication. The dances also preserve elements of ancient and medieval cultures, such as the Greek-derived Horon and the Byzantine-origin Kasap havasi. Their legacy continues in modern Turkey, with forms like Kolbastı popular among teens, and they remain a vital part of Turkish folklore and national identity.
Did You Know?
- The dominant dance forms in Turkey are types of line dance.
- Bar dances are performed side-by-side, hand, shoulder and arm-in-arm.
- Horon derives from the Greek word choros, meaning dance.
- Kasap havasi/Hasapiko originated in Byzantine times by butchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Turkish folk dance?
Turkish folk dance is a broad tradition of communal, often line-based dances that vary significantly from region to region across Turkey. It is typically performed to the rhythm of the davul drum and zurna reed pipe, and it expresses the layered cultural heritage shaped by the country's position at the meeting point of three seas and historic trade routes.
What are the most well-known Turkish folk dances?
Popular examples include Zeybek and Teke Zortlatması from the Aegean coast, Bar in Erzurum, Halay across central and southeastern Turkey, Hora in Thrace, Horon in the eastern Black Sea region, spoon dances around Konya, and Lezginka in Kars and Ardahan. Each carries its own regional identity while sharing the broader Turkish folk-dance framework.
What instruments are central to Turkish folk dance?
The davul (a large double-headed drum) and the zurna (a high-pitched double-reed wind instrument) form the classic musical pairing that drives most Turkish folk-dance performances. Their combined sound provides the driving rhythm and melodic line dancers follow in group formations.
Why is Turkish folk dance culturally significant?
It serves as a living expression of Turkey's complex, multi-regional identity, preserving distinct local traditions passed down through generations. Because the dances are mostly communal line dances performed outdoors, they reinforce social bonds and mark celebrations, harvests, and seasonal gatherings.
How does Turkish folk dance differ from other European or Middle Eastern folk traditions?
Its defining trait is extreme regional diversity within a single national tradition, a result of centuries of crossroads trade and migration along routes linking three seas. Rather than one uniform style, Turkey offers dozens of locally distinct dances—each with its own steps, tempo, and geographic identity—making the overall tradition far more varied than many single-style folk traditions elsewhere.
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