Horon with kemenche
Children from Turkey perform folk dance

Horon (Pontic: χορόν, romanized: khorón)[1] is a group of traditional folk dances from the Pontus or Eastern Black Sea Region in Turkey.[2]

Name

Etymology

The term horon derives from Greek choros (Greek: χορός, romanized: khorós), which means "dance." The earliest instance of its usage in a Turkic language is in Codex Cumanicus from 1303.[1]

Variants

In Ordu and Giresun, the term horan is used instead of horon.[2]

Origin

Horon dances originated from the ancient khartoum larda - khorkhon - horonol, a form of pagan worship. Over 50 variations of horon have been identified in a single region.[3]

Dance

The horon is typically performed by a group of men or women in a line or semicircle. This dance form involves fast shoulder shimmy (tremoulo), trembling of the entire body, and sudden squats.[4] Horon dances require speed and agility in a dancer.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Nişanyan, Sevan. "horon". NişanyanSözlük. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Gazimihal, Mahmut R. (1991). Türk halk oyunları kataloğu (in Turkish). Kültür Bakanlığı. p. 152. ISBN 978-975-17-0920-2. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Horon Folk Dance | All bout Turkey". www.allaboutturkey.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ^ "Top 9 Turkish Culture, Customs and Etiquette". toplist.info. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
Categories