Iranian dance

People in Iran have danced for a long time.

Some dances are done in big lines. Others are done by just one person.

Some people use sticks to dance. Others move their hands in a soft way.

Many groups live in Iran. Each group has its own dance. Some dances are for war. Some dances are for joy.

In the past, people danced to worship. They used masks and animal skins. They used music to keep a beat.

Some dancers wear bright, colorful clothes. They might wave small scarves too. This makes the dance look pretty.

Dancing is a way to share stories. It brings many people together.

It is a special way to celebrate.

People in Iran have danced for thousands of years.

Some art shows dancers on old pottery from 5000 BC.

Other old items, like this seal, show men dancing.

Many different groups live in Iran. Each group has its own style. Some dances are done in a long line or a circle. These are called chain dances. Other dances are done by one person. These dancers use soft hand and arm moves. They might wear silk clothes and long skirts.

There are many kinds of dance. Some dances are for war. Men might use sticks in a dance called Choob bazi. This is known as "stick play." Other dances are for spirits. The Sufi people do a dance called sama. They listen to music to feel close to the Divine. Some people dance to help heal others. The Baluchi people use music and dance for this. Many people still dance at weddings and big parties today.

Dance in Iran is a rich part of life that connects people to their history.

It can be a graceful solo performance or a high-energy group activity. Many different groups live in Iran, including Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Arabs, and Baluchis. Each group has its own special way of moving. Some dances are for celebrating, while others are for spiritual reasons. People use dance to show pride in their unique cultures. It is a way to share stories and feel together.

There are four main ways that people dance in Iran.

First, there are chain or line dances where people move in groups. Second, there are solo dances that use very delicate hand and arm movements. Third, there are war or combat dances that imitate fighting. For example, men in a gym called a zurkhaneh perform footwork called Raghs-e-Pa. Finally, there are ritual or spiritual dances. These can include the sama, where dancers listen to music to feel close to the Divine.

Dancing has been part of the Iranian plateau for a very long time.

Evidence shows people used dance in rituals as far back as the 6th millennium BC. Archaeologists have found old items with pictures of dancers at many sites. One site is called Cheshmeh Ali, where pottery from 5000 BC shows people dancing. In ancient times, some dances were even used to worship Mithra. A Greek historian named Herodotus also wrote about Persian history and wars. These old records help us see how dance has changed over thousands of years.

Different dances have very specific names and styles.

The Bandari dance comes from the ports near the Persian Gulf. It features rhythmic movements and hand waves that look like fishermen working together. Another style is Choob bazi, which means "stick play." In this dance, men use sticks to perform. The Basseri tribe performs a dance wearing very colorful, traditional clothes. There is also the Yalli dance, which is an Azerbaijani chain dance. It starts out slow but ends at a very fast running speed.

Many of these traditions connect to how people live and work. For instance, the Qasemabadi dance is a rice-harvesting dance from the Gilaki people. Other dances, like the Haj Naranji, focus on moving the upper body and face. Even when times were hard, such as after the 1979 revolution, dance stayed important. Many talented dancers moved to Europe and the United States. This helped spread Persian dance to new parts of the world. Today, people still dance at weddings and festivals like Noruz to celebrate.

Iranian dance is a diverse collection of indigenous styles that reflect the many cultures within Iran. These dances range from sophisticated court performances to energetic folk traditions. The country is home to many different ethnic groups, including Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Baluchis, and Turkmen. Each group brings its own unique language, history, and movement to the art form. While the Persian word for dance is paykubi, that term is no longer commonly used. Instead, most people use the Arabic-derived word raghs, or raqs. Other languages have their own names, such as halperke in Kurdish or bākhten in Luri.

Dancing has been a part of life on the Iranian plateau for thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts at many prehistoric sites, such as Tepe Sialk and Susa. These items include ceramics and pottery that depict people dancing. One famous example is a piece of ceramic from Cheshmeh-Ali dating back to 5000 BC. In these early times, dance was often part of music, drama, or religious rituals. People used masks, animal costumes, and various instruments to provide rhythm. These performances served many purposes, including celebration, mourning, and worship.

History shows that dance has evolved alongside the political changes of the region. One of the earliest researched dances was part of the cult of Mithra, which involved the sacrifice of a bull to promote vigor in life. This specific practice eventually became popular within the Roman Empire. The Greek historian Herodotus also documented Persian history and wars in his writings. Over time, foreign occupations by Greeks, Arabs, and Mongols caused political instability. These shifts led to a slow disappearance of some heritage dance traditions.

Modern Iranian dance can be organized into four distinct categories. The first category is chain or line dances, which are often named after specific ethnic groups. The second category is solo improvisational dance. This style often reconstructs the refined dances of the Safavid and Qajar courts. These performances use delicate movements of the hands and arms, such as wrist circles. The third category consists of war or combat dances. These movements can imitate fighting or help train warriors. An example is Raghs-e-Pa, which is the footwork used in a traditional gymnasium called a zurkhaneh.

The fourth category involves ritual or spiritual dances. Sufi practitioners perform a dance called sama, which means "to listen" in Arabic. This practice is a way to achieve unity with the Divine through music. Some spiritual dances are used for healing. For example, the Baluchi people perform the le’b guati ritual. This involves music and trance to help a person recover from being possessed by a spirit. In Balochi, the term gowati refers to patients who have recovered through this musical medicine.

Many specific dances carry deep cultural meanings tied to daily life. The Bandari dance comes from the ports, or bandar, near the Persian Gulf. Its name reflects its coastal origins, and its hand movements resemble fishermen cooperating at sea. The Qasemabadi dance is a chain dance used for rice harvesting by the Gilaki people. Another style, Choob bazi, translates to "stick play" and is performed by men using sticks. Some versions are social dances for both sexes, while others are more combative. Even the Yalli dance has deep roots, as it was traditionally a celebration of fire.

Social and political changes have also shaped how dance is practiced today. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, dancing faced strict prohibitions. The revolution ended a successful era for the Iranian national ballet company. Many professional dancers emigrated to Europe and the United States. This movement created a new generation of dancers in the Diaspora. Despite these challenges, dance remains a vital part of celebrations. People still use solo improvisational forms to interpret music at weddings and Noruz celebrations.