Halay

Halay (Kurdish: Dilan, Assyrian: Khigga) is a popular dance in the Middle East. It has been a symbol for the tempestuous way of life in Anatolia, its place of origin, since the times of Assyrian empire.

Halay is traditionally played on the zurna, supported by a davul, but in the recent years, electronic instruments have started to replace them. Typically, Halay dancers form a circle or a line, while holding each other with the little finger or shoulder to shoulder or even hand to hand with the last and first player holding a piece of cloth — usually called "mendil" (from Arabic).

The Halay has spread from Anatolia to many other regions, such as Armenia and the Balkans. It is a national dance in Turkey and Armenia.

Halay in weddings

In many Kurdish, Turkish, Turkmen, Assyrian, Arabic, Persian, Greek and Albanian weddings, people dance Halay for hours. Every province has its own style and forms.

Halay can also be danced at funerals of unmarried men.

External links

• Armenian Halay Sasun Dance
• Armenian Halay (Yarkhooshta) Dance
• Derik Sacin Ormezler