Kurdish dance (Kurdish: Govend) is a group of traditional hand-holding dances similar to those from the Balkans, Lebanon, and to Iraq. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of dancing circle. Kurdish culture is a group of distinctive cultural traits practiced by Kurdish people. ... The Kurdistan newspaper Kurdish literature (in Kurdish: Wêjey kurdî) is a literature written in Kurdish language. ... Kurdish mythology is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the culturally, ethnically or linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Kurdistan mountains of Taurus and Western Zagros in northern Mesopotamia. ... Kurdish films mainly evoke the poverty and the lack of rights of Kurdish people in the Middle East. ... Kurdish cuisine includes a wide variety of foods ranging from Berbesel, kellane, kullerenaske, dokliw (a thick soup), biryani, kuki (meat and/or vegetable pies), plaw (white rice alone or with addition of meat and/or vegetables and herbs, and a diverse variety of salads, pastries, and drinks specific to different... Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish Classical performers - storytellers (çîrokbêj), minstrels (stranbêj) and bards (dengbêj). ... Kurdish rug (Kurdish: Tewnî kurdî) is a rug made by Kurdish people in Middle East, and in the southernmost Caucasus. ... Kurdish men dancing in Kurdish traditional clothing Kurdish traditional clothings are variant. ... The history of the Kurds stretches from ancient times to the present day. ... Kurdish culture is a group of distinctive cultural traits practiced by Kurdish people. ... The word Hurrian may refer to: An ancient people of the Near East, the Hurrians. ... The Gutians (also: Quti, Kuti, Gurti, Qurti, Kurti) were a people of ancient Mesopotamia who lived primarily in the central Zagros Range, most probably an Aryan people. ... Mitanni or Mittani (in Assyrian sources Hanilgalbat, Khanigalbat) was a Hurrian kingdom in northern Mesopotamia (in what is today Syria) from ca. ... The Mannaeans (or Mannai, Mannae, Biblical Minni) were an ancient people of unknown origin, who lived in the territory of present-day Iranian Azerbaijan around the 10th to 7th century BC. At that time they were neighbours of the empires of Assyria and Urartu, as well as other small buffer... Medea (Medea Proper), ca. ... This article or section may contain inappropriate or misinterpreted citations. ... The Kayusid or House of Kayus (also Kâvos) or Kâvusakân(226-380) was a semi-independent Kurdish kingdom in central and southern Kurdistan established in 226 CE. The House of Kayus was established after an agreement between Kurdish principalities and kingdoms and the Persian Empire, following a... The Shaddadids were a Kurdish dynasty, who ruled in various parts of Armenia, including Arran from 951-1174 or 1199 A.D. They were established Dvin. ... Rawadid (also Rawwadid or Ravvadid), (955-1227), was a Kurdish principality ruling Azerbaijan from the 10th to the early 13th centuries, centered around Tabriz and Maragheh(Maragha). ... Hasanwayhid,(959-1015), was a Kurdish principality centered at Dinawar (northeast of present-day Kermanshah). ... The Annazid or Banu Annaz,(990-1116), were a Kurdish dynasty that ruled a territory on the present-day Iran-Iraq frontier that included Kermanshah, Hulwan, Dinawar (all in western Iran), Sharazour, Daquq, Daskara, Bandanijin(Mandali), and Nomaniya(in north-eastern Iraq). ... Marwanid, (990-1085), was a Kurdish dynasty in northren mesopotamia centered around the city of Diyarbakir. ... The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Egypt, Iraq in the 12th and 13th centuries. ... Badlis (1182-1847), was a Kurdish principality originated from the Rojaki tribe. ... Ardalan or (Erdelan) is the name of a semi-independent state in north-western Iran which ruled an area encompassing present day Iranian province of Kurdistan from medieval period up to mid 19th century. ... Badinan, was one of the more powerful and enduring Kurdish principalities. ... Soran Emirate (1399-1883 A.D) was a Kurdish principality in Southern Kurdistan Its Capital was the city of Rawanduz. ... Baban, (1649-1850), was a Kurdish principality and ruling family originated in the region of Pijder. ... The Kingdom of Kurdistan can refer to two kingdoms formed in the 1920s in the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan. ... The Republic of Ararat was a self-proclaimed Kurdish state. ... Qazi Mohammad, president of the Republic of Kurdistan The Republic of Mahabad (Kurdish: Komarî Mehabad, Persian: جمهوری مهاباد ), officially Republic of Kurdistan, established in Iranian Kurdistan, was a short-lived, Soviet backed Kurdish state of the 20th century after the Republic of Ararat in Turkey. ... The Kurdistan Region (Kurdish: حكومه تى هه ريمى كوردستان, Hikûmetî Herêmî Kurdistan, Arabic: اقلیم کردستان) is an autonomous, federally recognized political entity located in northern Iraq. ... Iranian Kurdistan (Kurdish: Kurdistana Îranê [1] or Kurdistana Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan) [2] or Rojhilatê Kurdistan (East of Kurdistan) [3]) is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. ... Turkish Kurdistan (Turkish: Türkiye Kürdistanı or Kuzey Kürdistan (Northern Kurdistan) or Kuzeybatı Kürdistan [4] (Northwestern Kurdistan), Kurdish: Kurdistana Tirkiyê [5] or Bakurê Kurdistanê [6] (North of Kurdistan) or Kurdistana Bakûr [7] (Northern Kurdistan) ) is an unofficial name for the southeastern part of Turkey densely inhabited... About half of all Kurds live in Turkey, numbering some 15 million where they comprise an estimated 20%[1] of the total population of Turkey and are predominantly distributed in the southeastern corner of the country. ... Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria making up 10% of the countrys population i. ... The Kurdistan newspaper Kurdish literature (in Kurdish: Wêjey kurdî) is a literature written in Kurdish language. ... Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish Classical performers - storytellers (çîrokbêj), minstrels (stranbêj) and bards (dengbêj). ... Kurdish women played an important role throughout Kurdish history. ... Languages Kurdish Religions Predominantly Sunni Muslim also some Shia, Yazidism, Yarsan, Judaism, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Iranian peoples (Talysh Baluch Gilak Bakhtiari Persians) The Kurds are an ethnic group who consider themselves to be indigenous to a region often referred to as Kurdistan, an area which includes adjacent parts... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... The Kurdish language is an Iranian language spoken in the region called Kurdistan, including Kurdish populations in parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. ... Balkan peninsula with northwest border Isonzo-Krka-Sava The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. ... There are two distinct dance categories called Round dance. ...

According to Encyclopaedia of Islam, Kurds sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthdays and marriage ceremonies. These folkloric dances are one of the main factors in distinguishing Kurds from neighbouring Muslim populations [1]. The Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI) is a scholarly encyclopaedia covering all aspects of Islamic civilization and history. ...

Some Kurdish dance has various and numerous versions such as following:

• Dilan
• Sepe
• Geryan
• Chapi or Chepi

In the Dilan version the dancers on the circular path consist, usually, of alternating men and women holding hands and colourful handkerchiefs called desroke, in a semi-circle, and moving around the circle with the leading and trailing persons waving their kerchiefs in elaborate motions. The leading individual often accentuates the customary steps and motions for the dance by displaying more energy or even by adding to the standard moves some of his own personal liking. Kurdish dance (Kurdish: Govend) is a group of traditional hand-holding dances similar to those from the Balkans, Lebanon, and to Iraq. ...

The Geryan version is a fast motive dance.

kurdish dance

Kurds like other nations have created samples of their life during thousands of years. Rhythmical and elegant movements originated from historical record, geographical location, way of living, beliefs, work and struggle, war and quarrel, called 'HALPARKI'. 'HALPARKI' has got its special place in Kurd's culture in a way that knowing about that needs the deep and valid slight of the viewer to watch the dancers' singing and giving thanks in HOSHAR' fighting against cruelty in 'ZANGI' joy and happiness in 'GARYAN' . The dancers hand in hand are depositaries of centuries of revealed culture in 'HALPARKI' 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. Unfortunately, some kinds of these rhythms wear out and are forgotten through the passage of time.

Media:== http://www.arakurd.com ==

Berlin Germany.Carneval of Cultures.Kurdish dance performance

Chepi comes from the word "chep" or "chap" meaning left. It is one of the more simple Kurdish dances. It consists of stepping forward on the left foot twice and then stepping back on the right foot twice while traveling in a circle. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 462 KB) Kurdish Dance Source: [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 462 KB) Kurdish Dance Source: [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Sepe is similar to chepi but with motives towards the center of the circle and hitting the right foot roughly to the ground.

There are also other variations used by Kurds.

In every dance one dancer falls or comes to the head of the circle whom is called 'Serchopí', holding a colorful or symbolic thing in his/her right hand. It is a tradition that not to take his place until he/she will lead 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.

See also

• Kurdish culture
• Assyrian dance