Ornamentedcanes (qopala) andhandkerchiefs (yalekhta) may be wielded by the dancers.
Assyrian folk dances are sets ofdances that are performed throughout the world byAssyrians, mostly on occasions such as weddings, community parties and other jubilant events.[1]
Assyrian folk dances are mainly made up ofcircle dances like ballet that are performed in a line, which may be straight, curved, or both. Most of the dances allow unlimited number of participants, with the exception of theSabre Dance, which require three at most. Assyrian dances would vary from weak to strong, depending on the mood andtempo of a song.
Assyrian folk dances belong to fivemetric groups:2 4 (10 dances),4 4 (6 dances),6 8 (13 dances),9 8 (1 dance),10 8 (1 dance). The tempo would usually range from slow (70 beats per minute) to very fast (140 beats).[2]
All Assyrian dances, with the exception of theSabre Dance, are done in a connected circle. Most Assyrian circle dances are lateral, vining and open-ended, where more and more participants can join the dance. In an open floor space, the lines assume open circular shapes where they tend to curve and acquirespiral shapes as determined by floor space availability.[3]
There are only five ways of moving the body;Step, leap, run, hop andjump. The legs are also used to stamp, stomp and kick. The arms are used predominantly and they'd usually move independently of the legs. Arm gestures includebouncing, swinging forward and back, moving side-to-side, lifting above the head andclapping.
In many dances, the torso, along with the shoulders and arms, bounce up and down rhythmically.Stomps and stamps are also executed in Assyrian folk dances. Knee bends, deepsquats and leg extensions are a regular occurrence in Assyrian dance.[4]
The connections include, hand-to-hand, hand to shoulder, and hand to hip, with hand-to-hand being the most popular. The hand-to-hand type has three connections; The "W", the "V" and the "T". The "W" arm hold is the most common where the arms are raised into the "W" position (or, at least, it appears to look like the letter W). The "T" dance is where hands are placed on other participants's shoulders. This is the least common dance of the three.[5]
Siskany: The Siskany dance involves the participants briskly shaking their shoulders where they move their limbs energetically, with an emphasis on their feet in a zippy manner. Sometimes the khigga beat is geared up to this to indicate a climactic end. The pulsating tempo is consanguineous to theelectronic dance music anddance-pop found in western music. The dance technique is virtually like the khigga one, albeit it is in a faster fashion. Alternatively, a simpler form involves the dancers plainly going forwards and backwards to the beat with stomps, as if they are rocking or swinging. The dance goes by the time signature of4 4 and the tempo is around 120-135bpm.
Gubbare: Mostly danced at the end of a party. The music is fast, lively and upbeat, akin to ajig. The music accompanying the dance is typically in themajor key.Pinkies interlock, dancers repeatedly go forward and back in motion in the circle. Popular song in a gubareh beat isTom Tom byLinda George. Gubareh is in4 4 and its tempo is around 125-135bpm.
Bablaka
Bablaka: Fervently danced, with pinkies interlocking, where they (hands and arms too) move up and down energetically and perennially.[6] But unlikegubareh, the participant is more stable where they will not prance forward and backwards in the dance floor. Motion is intemperately focused on arms, shoulders and hands inbablaka. Dancers may also rhythmically bend knees. The beat is virtually homogeneous togubareh. It also danced at the end of parties. The meter is4 4 and tempo is around 125-130bpm.
Belaty: The dance is accompanied by a moderately fast-pacedArabic rhythm (similar tobelly dancing music). Dancers would connect hand-to-hand in the circle, lift legs to the beat whilst making a slight leap and kick their legs to the sides in the air (this would repeat). An example of a notable song with a belaty beat isAhela Yoni byAshur Bet Sargis. Becoming somewhat rare and unwonted recently, songs traditionally in its rhythm are now played and danced to in theBagiyeh orPeda beat. The beat is 125-135bpm.4 4.
Tolama: Lively and energetic dance where the participants constantly jump and kick legs in the air repeatedly (similar in fashion tobelaty andgubareh), whilst also moving their torso forward and backwards. It also danced at the end of parties after Gubbareh, but it is not as commonly practiced as Gubbareh. Notable song in this beat isShoshonla byShamiram Urshan. The time signature is2 4 and temp is 125-140bpm.
Assyrian traditional costumes, with the lead dancer bearing a sword
Sabre dance: Asolo dance that usually involves one to three participants. As the dance starts, thesword bearer dances by himself, waving his sword and holding his shield (a shield is optional, though). The dance represents the symbolic surrender of thebride to thegroom and his family. In weddings, it is performed by the closest male relatives of the couple. The rhythm is a6 8 duple meter, and this gives a "springy" feeling to the dance.[7]
Khigga: The simplest and most common dance beat in Assyrian music. Individuals hold hands with the line or circle following around the dance floor where they gently move one leg forward, backward and repeat with the next leg. Its music is the first beat that is played when welcoming thebride andgroom to thereception hall. A notable song with this beat isMoralon byEvin Agassi. Furthermore, the termkhigga is also occasionally used to denote all the Assyrian folk circle dances, i.e. "Khigga'd belaty" ("khigga of belaty"), "khigga'd gubareh", etc. It is generally danced from right to left byIraqi andIranian Assyrians. Khigga goes by thetime signature of4 4 with moderatetempo between 105-115bpm. Rhythm is similar to that of ashuffle beat.
Heavy Khigga (Khigga Yaqoora): Virtually the same dance as above, except the tempo is 'heavier' where the participants would make more ardent and exaggerated moves, as its name suggests, namely knee bending. It is not to be confused withSiskani, as that dance beat is faster and has distinguishing techniques. It is danced from right to left by Assyrians from Iraq and Iran, and left to right by Assyrians from Syria. Connection is always made by hands. Examples of songs having this beat isZayno Mala by David Simon. Heavy khigga goes by thetime signature of4 4 withtempo between 115-120bpm.
Khigga'd Suria (Syrian Khigga) or Beriyeh: Danced byAssyrians from Syria, it is a standard khigga that is generally accompanied by a faster beat, usually at around 110-120bpm. Dancers connect by pinkies, where they repeatedly wave their connected pinkies whilst taking a few steps forwards and one step backwards. It is generally danced from left to right. The dance technique is similar togubareh, but it lacks the fast-paced multiple forward-steps and leg kicking. It is danced during the entrance of the bride and groom at weddings.
Tanzara: Legend has it that the dance was brought to Anatolia by the AncientAssyrians during their conquest of the region in theAssyrian empire in commemoration to the god of food and vegetation. Dancers connect by holding hands in the circle or line, go forwards and backwards by making a little knee bending. Uncommon than above dances. The time signature is2 4 and tempo is 115-125bpm.
Kochari: The notable attribute of this dance is that the participants are connected by arms-on-arms (akin todabke). Each leg makes a kick in a repetitive manner. Common among Assyrians in Syria. Very rare among other Assyrians.2 4, 110-120bpm
Sheikhani: One of the older dances, Sheikhani is laid-back, albeit bouncy, and slightly slower than khigga. The main movement istwo-step. The two-step begins with the right foot (right-left-right) and is then repeated with the left foot (left-right-left). Hands are interlocked, left arm is bent at the elbow and pressed against the back, right arm held forward against the back of the dancer in front. The dancers go forward a couple steps in, with their arms at their sides and at the same time, kick into the center. After that, they immediately step back out. A notable song with a sheikhani beat isWye Wye Minakh bySargon Gabriel. Sheykhani is4 4 in time signature and is 90-105bpm. Rhythm is similar to adembow.
Bagiye: Evolved from Sheikhani, Bagiyeh has a move where the dancers slowly turn to face the back of the dancer in front or side of them, leisurely kick both legs in the air, then brusquely raise hands into air whilst making a sharp rotation. The dancers would turn to the right; their hands are hooked to one another by the fingers, the right arm is bent in front of the body, and the left arm is bent in behind the back. Although similar, bagiye is more sluggish and elaborate than sheikhany. There is a homogeneous variant of this dance calledPeda with particularised sets of songs, popularised by singer-songwriterAdwar Mousa inSyria. The dance beat has gotten popular in the late 2000s and 2010s, with songs traditionally in thebelaty rhythm being incorporated into this beat. Notable song with a bagiyeh beat isYalekhta by Linda George. Notable song affiliated with peda isNarineh bySargon Gabriel. Bagiyeh is4 4 in time signature and is 80-95bpm.
Georgina: AKurdish-inspired dance that's slow-paced and usually accompanied bysentimental ballads (one popular song beingZereneh byJanan Sawa). The music tends have aTurkish andKurdish flavour. Dancers hold the pinkie or little finger and move them rhythmically (akin tobablaka, albeit gently). It is more common among Chaldean Assyrians. The tempo is around 70bpm-80bpm.3 4.
Chobi: A modern circle dance found inIraqi music. It is also practiced byIraqi Assyrians. The dance is similar tokhigga, but it would have more pronounced leg elevation and swaying. Each leg swiftly kicks to the air and repeats. Arms sway forwards and backwards. Songs may usually be inIraqi Arabic, but a few Assyrian songs such asTeela Teela by Evin Agassi would have this rhythm. The tempo is around 95bpm-100bpm.[8]
Arabanoo: A slow circle dance where dancers interconnect with pinkies and sway tardily around in a circle. Mostly practiced among Urmian Assyrians. It is not to confused with Georgina as this dance is slower and more serene in comparison.Aywateh by Evin Agassi utilizes this beat. Uncommon.6 8, 52-66bpm
Azia Tamma: Similar tosheikhani in terms of pace, but with more steps that go forward and backwards (or reverse) a notch. Not common.2 4, 82-88bpm
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