Dances of the Middle East

This page shows images and gives descriptions of dances that AVAZ International Dance Theatre performs. These dances originate from all over the Middle East.

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Armenia

Soloist: Brandy Maya Healy

Im Anoush Daviq, provides the haunting melody for this graceful demonstration of female solo dancing.

Greece

Ballos The root of the word for this dance, found in many local variations throughout most of the Greek Islands, is Italian, reminding the viewer of the many centuries these islands were dominated by Venice. The clothing of the two islands of Sifnos and Ios, like many of the Greek Islands, consists of many folklorized elements of historic western European fashionable dress. The couples perform many charming, romantic figures during the course of the dance.

Croatia

Dances of Posavina. Posavina is a well-watered, fertile flat land that straddles the Sava River south of the Croatian capital, Zagreb. The costumes, until recently made entirely in the home by the women, are richly woven and the color red, made from the madder plant, predominates. Red is the color of youth and fertility, and until this century was the color worn by brides-white being the appropriate hue of widows and mourning. The dancers represent maidens, for upon marriage, the hair is covered and women cease to dance in public occasions. The most popular of the dances of Central Croatia is the drmes, or so-called shaking dance, which is performed in many variations.

Uzbekistan

Bayat. This classical Uzbek dance, named for a musical mode, shows the dancers in dresses made of the famous Central Asian ikat silk made with a unique batik technique.

Bosnia

Suite of Dances from Old Bosnia. In the former Croatian community of Guce Gora, near Travnik, the inhabitants gathered for working bees during which they sang and performed game-like dances. Among the unique vocal techniques was singing into the tepsia, a large pan or tray, which produced unique vocal effects. The clothing, including the fezes used in head pieces, contains Turkish elements alongside the linen garments worn in the region since prehistoric times.

Serbia

Cocek. The cocek is a popular dance in South Serbia and Madeconia, where its performance is largely associated with the large Gypsy populations of the towns. The movements found in the dance contain many elements associated with belly dancing and performancese are marked by individual improvisation. The costume is a legacy of five centuries of Ottoman military and cultural dominance. The music is cast in a 9/8 rhythm, further heightening the Turkish character of this dance. Numerous melodies exist for this dance, and they are still composed and played by brass bands and older instrumental ensemble known as the calgi ja.

Iran

Shateri. This AVAZ production of the contemporary urban dance, shateri, found in urban centers like Tehran, utilizes stylistic elements from both the shateri and jaheli movement traditions. Iranian scholars of folklore attest to the popularity of performing male-style dances in the women's quarters (anderun).

Iran

The Qashqa'i, like most nomadic peoples in Iran, continue to wear their colorful costumes as everyday wear. The tribal confederation of the Qashqa'i were made famous by two films, "Grass" and "People of the Wind", which depicted their nomadic lifestyle and the movements of their huge herds of animals from summer quarters to winter quarters, throughout the province of Fars in southwestern Iran. Their rugs, carpets, and other weavings are world famous. The women are famous for the dance chupi, while the men engage in stick play (chub-bazi) which invariably attracts the interest of anthropologists and filmmakers alike.

Baluchistan

The Baluchi tribes and clans are divided among numerous groupings and the women's elaborate embroideries reflect their tribal identification. Geographically situated between the worlds of Iran and the subcontinent, the music and dances reflect elements of both of these cultural legacies. The costumes were gathered and donated to the company by Parveneh and Ahmad Azad.

Iran

The Caspian Sea province of Gilan is one of the most picturesque areas of Iran. Those unfamiliar with Iran, are often startled to find a lush, semi-tropical jungle area in which tea and rice are grown. The clothing, with its full skirts covered with ribbons, comes from the village of Qassemabad. One of the most popular dances of this colorful region is the dance in which the tasks of growing and harvesting rice are depicted with mimetic movements.

Uzbekistan

Samarqand Court Dance. The ancient Iranian city of Samarqand served as the capital of Timurid dynasty, famous for its architecture and the luxury of its court life. Figures of dancers frequent the famous miniature paintings of this period.

Iran-Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf dance , known as bandari (from the port cities) is performed in one of the hottest areas of the globe. The region has historically served as the trading depot and confluence of the Arabian, Persian, Indian, and African worlds. Under Islam these groups mixed and created a unique musical and dance tradition with elements of all of these areas The cloth for the traditional dress was often imported from India and other areas, which until this century were more accessible by sea than the arduous land routes from the interior of Iran. Perhaps due to the extreme heat and humidity of this region, masks are worn in place of veils.

Croatia

The kolo from Valpovo is distinguished by the unique costumes worn in only three villages in Slavonia, in Eastern Croatia. These costumes are a gift of Sherwin and Bonita Edelberg.

Iran

Dances of the Qajar period. The court dances of Iran have been pictorially attested for centuries in a variety of art work. During the Qajar period (1795-1925), dancers formed one of the most popular subjects for the unique paintings of the period. The dancers, known as motreb, were depicted covered in precious gems and pearls and luxurious fabrics in the same fashion as the shah and his courtiers.

Croatia

Dances of Bratina. The costumes from this Central Croatian area, now largely destroyed by the war, were gathered by the artistic director during several research trips to the region in the 1970s. They form a unique artistic legacy of peasant weavers. Like Posavina, the most popular of the old dances is the drmes.

Iran

The Kurdish population of Bojnurd was forcibly moved to this area of Khorasan, in northeastern Iran by Shah Abbas in the seventeenth century. The women's clothing, which features a relatively short skirt, is unique in Iran. The men's home made footwear are elaborately embroidered, using silver and gold thread. There are several dances found in this region and the dance using sticks for maintaining the rhythm is very colorful. The music, like that of Western Afghanistan is largely cast in 7/8.

Uzbekistan

Katta Uyin. Katta Uyin, the great dance, features the most important basic elements of the Uzbeck classical dance tradition. Like most of the costumes of the professional urban dancers throughout the Iranian world, the dancers fashioned many different types of clothing which they often changed during an evening's entertainment to keep the interest of their clientele.

Iran

Soloist: Lynette Houston

Dancers: Shadiar Ohadi & Azita Agahi

Gol-ha. A dance creation inspired by the Persian classical orchestra of the same name.

Raqs-e shadi. A dance in the Persian classical tradition.

Iran

Costume modeled by board member Parvaneh Azad

The unique small town of Abayaneh is near the city of Kashan located in Central Iran, southeast of the capital, Tehran. The inhabitants of this town are famous throughout Iran for their high level of education. It was one of the last strongholds of the Zoroastrian faith and fire temples are still in evidence.