Horon (dance)

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The horon (Greek: Horos, masculine noun, singular form, nominative) (Greek: (o)Χορός), (Turkish: Horon) is a dance style of Pontus found in the Black Sea region, now modern Turkey. Pontian dance retains the aspects of Persian and Greek dance styles. The dances called Horoi (Greek: Χοροί), singular Horos (Greek: Χορός) meaning literally "Dance" in both Ancient (cf. also (η)όρχησις) and Modern Greek language, are circular in nature and are each characterized by distinct short steps. A unique aspect of Pontian dance is the tremoulo (Greek: Τρέμουλο), which is a fast shaking of the upper torso by a turning of the back on its axis. Pontian dances are similar to Greek dances in being danced in a line and forming a circle. Many Pontian dances are almost identical in steps to Greek dances. Pontian dances also resemble Persian and Middle Eastern dances in that they are not led, with no single leader in the dance formation. This is different from Greek dances but is a widespread aspect of Persian and Middle Eastern dances.

[edit] Origins

Horon, from the root "Hor", is an ancient Tibetan term used to describe Turks of Western China or modern Uygur Turks. Turks at their original migration south from Siberia to settle in the Altay Valley, next to Lake Baykal in Central Asia up to three thousand years ago.[citation needed] These Turks were of the Shamen faith worshiping the sky, wind and fire. This affinity and worship of the sky and all in it were holy as the birds of flight especially the falcon and hawk, which played a major role. Chain dances were ritualistic methods of worship with rapid, connnected, arm-in-arm rotation around a massive bonfire in movement simulating the flight of the fighting birds of prey. The motion of the raised arms with the hand facing down is seen in the traditional Black Sea horon (Turkish: Karadeniz horon), which depicts the flight of the hawk- the hand pointing down represents its talons. In the modern Black Sea horon, the abrupt motion of the arms raised directly up followed by the arm dropping to the side in motion with a hard squat depicts that landing of the bird. The tight circular rotation in which the rotating circle tightens into a very small circle is said to represent the air battle of the birds. These motions were performed by mostly men as practiced while chain linked arm in arm in a rapidly rotating circle around a fire in worship. Even in todays modern Turkish, the root word Hor in horoz or rooster is present.[citation needed]

The evolution of these dances moved to the Kazakh Turks. These dances continued to be performed by soldiers in victory as well as mountain bandits. The costumes depicted in the modern horon are tight legged shalvar horseback riding pants with boots and chains around the waist and bullet shells lining the vests.

The rapid shoulder and upper body movements from the waist is said to have evolved from the modern Turkish version dating to recent centuries. These movement are said to have derived from the shimmying of the little silver anchovy fish (Turkish: Hamsi) found in mass abundance in the Black Sea, which has worked its way into an inseparable part of northern Turkish culture.[citation needed] As Pontian populations of a Greek and Persian mix were exposed to these dances later, it is said that long sea journeys and merchant exchanges, or perhaps throughout the migration of troops as far away as Ireland enroute to the Holy Land were also exposed to these dance styles. It is thought the Irish jig and even its modern version, the River Dance, may have its roots from this exposure.[citation needed]

[edit] Pontic dances

  • Omal -(Grk.ομάλ)-meaning calm
  • Tik-(Grk.τικ)
    • Argon-(Grk.αργόν)-meaning slow
    • Tromakton-(Grk.τρομαχτόν)-meaning fiercely
    • So gonaton-(Grk.σο γόνατο)-meaning on the knee
    • Langefton-(Grk.λανγκευτόν)-meaning jumping or hopping
    • Karslidikon-(Grk.καρσλίδικον)-Meaning from Kars
    • Diplon-(Grk.διπλόν)-Meaning douple
  • Dipat or Giavaston-(Grk.διπάτ)-Meaning double step
  • Ters (from Kioumoush Maten)-(Grk.Tερς)-Meaning wrong or incorrectly
  • Ters (from Ak Dag Maten)-(Grk.Tερς)-Meaning wrong or incorrectly
  • Tas-(Grk.τας)
  • Trigona (from Trapezounta)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
  • Trigona (from Matsouka)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
  • Trigona (from Kerasounda)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
  • Seranitsa (from Trapezounta)-(Grk.σερανίτσα)
  • Seranitsa (Sheriana)-(Grk.σερανίτσα)
  • Serra-(Grk.σέρρα)-Named after the region Serra
  • Masher or Maheria(Grk.Μαχαίρια)or Pyrecheios(Grk.πυρήχειος)(Turkish Bıçak Oyunu)- ancient Greek dance described by the ancient historian Xenophon meaning sound of fire. In the films The Addams Family Gomez dances Masher.
  • Kots-(Grk.κοτς)-Meaning Heel dance
  • Kotsari-(Grk.κότσαρι)- Meaning Heel dance
  • Almatsouk-(Grk.αλματσούκ)
  • Titara (Argyropoli)-(Grk.τίταρα)
  • Titara (Kars)-(Grk.τίταρα)
  • Giurvalandun-(Grk.γιουρβαλαντούν)
  • Samson-(Grk.σαμσόν)-From Sinop
  • Etere-(Grk.έτερε)
  • Karsilamas-(Grk.καρσιλαμάς)-From Kars
  • Pipilomatena-(Grk.πιπιλομάτενα)- Meaning soft eyes
  • Tsurtuguzus-(Grk.τσουρτούγουζους)
  • Momogera-(Grk.μομόγερα)-Meaning immature old men
  • Atsiapat-(Grk.ατσιαπάτ)
  • Gemura-(Grk.γέμουρα)-Meaning from Gemura
  • Diplon Omal-(Grk.διπλόν ομάλ)-Meaning double calm
  • Kalon Korits-(Grk.καλόν κορίτσ)-Meaning good girl
  • Kymishanalidikon-(Grk.κιμισχαναλίδικον)-Meaning from Gumushane
  • Dolme-(Grk.ντολμέ)
  • Utsai-(Grk.ούτσαϊ)
  • Sarikuz-(Grk.σαρικουζ)
  • Siton-(Grk.σιτόν)
  • Tamsara(Tamzara)-(Grk.τάμσαρα)
  • Tyrfon-(Grk.τυρφόν)
  • Fona-(Grk.φόνα)
  • Hala-Hala-(Grk.χάλα-χάλα)
  • Halai(Halay)-(Grk.χαλάϊ)

[edit] See also

  • Horan (dance)
  • Whoron (derogatory term)