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Kurdish dances (Kurdish: Govend, Dîlan, Helperkê, Helperge, Şayî; دیلان, گۆڤەند, ھەڵپەڕگە, ھەڵپەڕکێ, شایی) are a group of traditional dances among Kurds. It is a form of a circle dance, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical center of the dancing circle. At times musicians playing on a drum or a double reed wind instrument known as a zurna, accompany the dancers.[1] Often there are dancers twirling handkerchiefs who lead the half-circled group of dancers.[1] The dancers, generally the females, but also, on occasions, the males, wear traditional Kurdish clothes.[2] The Kurds dance on several occasions such as Kurdish festivals, birthdays, New Years, Newroz, marriage and other ceremonies[3] and the dances have several names which often relate to local names and traditions.[3] Its noteworthy that these folkloric dances are mixed-gender which distinguishes the Kurds from other neighbouring Muslim populations.[4] On March 3rd 2023, Iranian police shut down a sports centre over mixed-gender Kurdish dances.[5]
