Kurdish dance

Kurdish dance (Kurdish: Govend, هه‌ڵپه‌ركێ / Hilperkê ^[1]) 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. According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Kurds sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthdays, New Years, 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.^[2]

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 Hoshar 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.

Variations

Berlin Germany. Carneval of Cultures. Kurdish dance performance

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:

• Dilan
• 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. 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 Empire, 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.

References

1. ^ Govend, Kurdish Wiktionary.
2. ^ Kurds, Kurdistan, Part 4. Dances and music, The Encyclopedia of Islam, Edited by C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, B. Lewis & CH. Pellat, Vol. V, KHE-MAHI, Leiden, E.J. BRILL Publishers, 1986, 1263 pp. (see p. 477).

See also

• Kurdish culture
• Assyrian dance
• Debke (a form of Arabic dance)