Ardah
History & Cultural Context
Traditionally performed by sword-wielding men in lines; celebration of martial prowess.
More in Global Middle Eastern & Arab Classical & Folk
Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance)
Fluid, undulating hip and torso movements; blends grace with strength; Turkish and Lebanese variations.
Tanoura
Egyptian Sufi-origin folk dance performed at celebrations; dancers in colorful skirts spin in trance-like state.
Dabke
Levantine circle folk dance with synchronized group movements; part of shared cultural landscape.
Khaleegy
Traditional dance of the Arabian Gulf region.
Guedra
Trance-inducing desert dance with hand movements followed by head and torso swinging.
Mevlevi Sema (Whirling Dervish)
Sufi spiritual meditation through whirling; seeks connection with Allah by abandoning ego; UNESCO Heritage (2005).
Halay
Turkish folk circle dance performed at celebrations.
Horon
Turkish Black Sea region folk dance tradition.
Zeybek
Solo Turkish male folk dance showing off athletic prowess.