I’d Rather Be Dancing Kurdish Folk Dances

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The Kurds are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan located in southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria. Their dances (at least the ones I found on YouTube) are characterized by line formation and joined hands (often pinkie holds). Dancers at the end of the lines typically twirl scarves. There is a sameness to the dances, though variations in steps, direction, arm movements, height of foot raises, bounces, shoulder involvement, and music. Sometimes heads turn in unison.

A men’s dance group:

Beautiful Kurdish costumes:

Kurdish dance from Iraq:

Women’s dance group:

I remember learning this dance at Phoenix International Folk Dancers: Şemmamê

Aliyo Dino Grani Halay. Being danced in the street in a multi-generational setting, this may be a wedding or a festival:

This dance is called either Tin Tin or Teen when danced to the song Tin Tin Tini Mini Hanem; it’s also known as (Hey) Ghuma Ghuma or (Hey) Khuma Khuma, after the original song it was danced to:

Oee Naze:

Zozan:

About Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Andrea R Huelsenbeck is a wife, a mother of five and a former elementary general music teacher. A freelance writer in the 1990s, her nonfiction articles and book reviews appeared in Raising Arizona Kids, Christian Library Journal, and other publications. She is currently working on a young adult mystical fantasy novel and a mystery.

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