Kurdish dance

Kurdish dance (Kurdish: Govend/ Helperkê/Shayî‎, هه‌ڵپه‌ركێ,شایی) is a group of traditional hand-holding dances similar to those from the Middle Eastern countries. It is a form of a circle dance, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical center of the dancing circle. According to the Encyclopedia of Islam, Kurds sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthdays, New Years, Newroz, marriage and other ceremonies. Its noteworthy that these folkloric dances are mixed-gender which distinguishes the Kurds from other neighboring Muslim populations.

Kurdish dances reflect samples of Kurdish life over the past thousands of years. Rhythmic and elegant movements (originating from historical record, geographical location, the Kurdish way of living, beliefs, work and struggle, war and quarrel), are called Halparke (or Helperkê/Hilperkê in Kurdish alphabet). Halparke has got its special place in Kurd's culture in a way that knowing about that needs the deep and valid slight of the viewers to watch the dancers' singing and giving thanks in Hoshar fighting against cruelty in Zangi joy and happiness in Garyan, etc..

The dancers, hand in hand, are depositories of centuries of revealed culture in Halparke that indicates their unity in history. These movements differ in different parts of Kurdistan from the variety point of views, and joy and worry have their own special place. Some kinds of these rhythms wear out and are forgotten through the passage of time. Kurdish people from Kurdistan mainly dance the helperke; it is easier and the simplest.

Kurdish dance is the one of the main cultural activity for most of the Kurdish women who can enjoy the day.

In every dance one dancer falls or comes to the head of the circle who is called 'Serchopí', holding a colorful or symbolic object in his/her right hand. It is a tradition that no one take his/her place until he/she leads the dancers group at least one circle. The rest of dancers are called Gawaní. Sometimes Gawaní is also primarily called to the last dancer of the circle. This line of dancers differ from many ages. You can have 3-year-olds and 83-year-olds in the same line at a party.

...
Wikipedia