Assyrian folk dance
Assyrian Folk Dances are dances that are performed throughout the world by Assyrians, mostly on occasions such as weddings.
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. It has also been stated that it is "derived from the ancient Assyrian ta-ka'-ni, which means 'come, be happy'."[1]
- 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-paced song found mainly in the Nineveh plains among Chaldean Catholic Assyrians of Alqosh and surrounding villages.
- Beriyo: created to be danced in the mountains while taking care of all the sheep and the other animals
- Tanzara (Tammuz Ara): Legend has it that the dance was brought to Anatolia by the Ancient Assyrians during there conquest of the region in the Assyrian empire[2][3] in commemoration to the god of food and vegetation Tammuz.
- Aman(Sut Ictim Dilim Yandi)(Historical Kilis Folk Dance) [1],[2]
See also
External links
References