Assyrian folk dance
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Assyrian Folk Dances are dances that are performed throughout the world by Assyrians, mostly on occasions such as weddings.
[edit] Types of Dances
- Khigga: The most popular Assyrian dance, maybe because it is very simple to dance and also it is the first beat that is played in welcoming the bride and groom to the reception hall. Khigga has other sub-styles such as "Heavy Khigga" or "Normal Khigga". Heavy simply means the same dance beat but slower. Another style of Khigga involve instead of taking steps forward the dancers will take step back, reversing the dance steps.
- Shaykhanee: Some say the word comes from the Assyrian word "Bshkhana" which means getting warm. Assyrians before going on a hunt or battle would dance on this beat to get warm. Much of the Assyrian original homeland was in snow-peaked mountains, so this was used to warm up the people.
- Chobi: A modern dance found in Iraqi music
- Tolama: Among the oldest Assyrian dances, rarely performed these days.
- Shora: A dramatic folk dancing found by Assyrians in Syria. Shora means Battle in Assyrian.
- Seskanee: A fast paise song found mainly in the Nineveh plains among Chaldean Catholic Assyrians of Alqosh and surrounding villages.
- Belaty
- Ekmaly
- Gulbareh
- Janiman
- Mamer
- Hoberban
- Tanzara
- Janiman Kavrakh
- Aino Kchume
- Mamyana
- Demale
- Chalakhan
[edit] Sheikhani in Iran
One of the most popular dance by Assyrians in Iran is Sheikhani. The dancers start off by first holding hands and standing very close to one another. Then the dancers start to face the center of the circle. The dancers go forward a couple steps in, with their arms at their sides and at the same time, kick into the center. After that, they immediately step back out. When the dancers reach the circle which they originally began with, they turn to the right; their hands are hooked to one another by the fingers, the right arm is bent in front of the body, and the left arm is bent in behind the back. The dancers move a few steps along the line-of-direction, until they face the center, ready to begin the pattern again. There are many variations of these steps within each Assyrian village.
