Azerbaijani dances ( az, Azərbaycan Rəqsləri) are traditional dances developed and performed in the Republic of

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

. These dances are known for their quick tempo and the dancers' traditional clothing.

Examples of dances in Azerbaijan

* Abayi (

Azerbaijani Azerbaijani may refer to: * Something of, or related to Azerbaijan * Azerbaijanis * Azerbaijani language See also * Azerbaijan (disambiguation) * Azeri (disambiguation) * Azerbaijani cuisine * Culture of Azerbaijan The culture of Azerbaijan ...

: ''Abayı'') is an Azerbaijani dance with its origins in the Shaki and Zaqatala regions of Azerbaijan. The name of the dance refers to the middle-aged people who typically perform this dance with exaggerated movements for comedic effect. The dance's slow-tempo song was written by Shaki composers. This dance is traditionally performed as a group but has evolved into a solo dance. * Agir Karadagi (

: ''Ağır Qaradağı'', meaning "heavy Karadakhi") is a dance song that originated in Karadakh. This slow dance is popular in Shaki and Zaqatala. * Anzali (

: ''Ənzəli'') is a traditional dance that was created approximately in 1880–1890 in

Baku Baku (, ; az, Bakı ) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world an ...

. This slow dance is typically performed by older people at the beginning of

wedding A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...

ceremonies. * Asma Kasma (

: ''Asma Kəsmə,'' meaning "hanging cutting") is one of the oldest Azerbaijani wedding dances. The song "Asma-Kasma" accompanies the procession of the

bride A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is newlywed. When marrying, the bride's future spouse, (if male) is usually referred to as the '' bridegroom'' or just ''groom''. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by a maid, bri ...

to the

bridegroom A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed. When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse (if female) is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man ...

's home as women dance alongside the bride. This slow, slightly exaggerated dance features several jumps. * Asta Karabagi (

: ''Asta Qarabağı'', meaning "slow Karabakhi") is a dance from

Karabakh Karabakh ( az, Qarabağ ; hy, Ղարաբաղ, Ġarabaġ ) is a geographic region in present-day southwestern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser Caucasus down to the lowlands between the rivers Kura and ...

. This slow dance has fixed movements. * Avari (

: ''Avarı'') originates from the Avari people who live in

. Throughout the dance's three parts, the dancers' movements gradually accelerate until they reach the quick rhythm of the Lezginka music. * Banovsha (

: ''Bənövşə'', meaning "

Viola ; german: Bratsche , alt=Viola shown from the front and the side , image=Bratsche.jpg , caption= , background=string , hornbostel_sachs=321.322-71 , hornbostel_sachs_desc=Composite chordophone sounded by a bow , range= , related= *Violin family ...

flower") represents how a violet grows from the ground, blooms, and fades. This dance is performed at

Nowruz Nowruz ( fa, نوروز, ; ), zh, 诺鲁孜节, ug, نەۋروز, ka, ნოვრუზ, ku, Newroz, he, נורוז, kk, Наурыз, ky, Нооруз, mn, Наурыз, ur, نوروز, tg, Наврӯз, tr, Nevruz, tk, Nowruz, ...

spring festivals in

. * Bahar (''Bahar rəqsi'' or ''Gülbaxçalar'' or ''Bahar gəldi'' or ''Bahar olsun''): This dance is performed in

spring festivals in

by women. The dance consisted of 3 parts. This dance was composed by the Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. The music of this dance was composed by great Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Ceyrani or ''Ceyran bala'' (

: ''ceyran'', meaning "

Gazelle A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . This article also deals with the seven species included in two further genera, '' Eudorcas'' and '' Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third ...

", an Azeri given name for girls) is a dance, performed by both men and women, which symbolizes the gazelle's gracefulness and elegance. * Chichekler, meaning "flowers" in

Azeri Azerbaijanis (; az, Azərbaycanlılar, ), Azeris ( az, Azərilər, ), or Azerbaijani Turks ( az, Azərbaycan Türkləri, ) are a Turkic people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are the second-most nume ...

, is an elegant dance that was created in 1910. This women's dance is typically performed in two different forms: slow and fast. The group of colorfully costumed dancers gathers together to collect flowers to display to the audience. The dancers form circles and triangles to the upbeat music. The dance also includes complex hand movements and spins. * Choban Regsi (from Persian: ''Choopan'', meaning "shepherd's dance") is a men's dance typical to rural areas. This energetic dance symbolizes the cheerful spirit of the shepherd who brings his herd to the valley. This dance was first created by the Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. * Innabi (

: ''İnnabı'', meaning "name of a fruit") is performed by one or two female dancers to exhibit a woman's airs and graces as well as coquetry. * Gangi (

: ''Cəngi'', meaning "related to war" (from Persian: Dgang جنگ, meaning "war")) is martial music that calls all people to unity, friendship, and invincibility. * Halay (

: ''Yalli'') is a traditional dance that was first performed at a traditional celebration of fire where dancers would worship fire as a goddess. Halay begins slowly and finishes with quick, running-like steps. Historically, whoever didn't dance the halay correctly was fined by the

chieftain A tribal chief or chieftain is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribe The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of western Afroeurasia. Tribal societies are sometimes categorized a ...

, who would then make him sing a song or dance another dance. * Lezginka (

: ''Ləzgi'') is a national dance of

Lezghins Lezgins or Leks ( lez, Лезгияр, Лекьер. lezgijar) are a Northeast Caucasian ethnic group native predominantly to southern Dagestan, a republic of Russia, and northeastern Azerbaijan. The Lezgin are predominantly Sunni Muslims and s ...

popular among many people in the

Caucasus Mountains The Caucasus Mountains, : pronounced * hy, Կովկասյան լեռներ, : pronounced * az, Qafqaz dağları, pronounced * rus, Кавка́зские го́ры, Kavkázskiye góry, kɐfˈkasːkʲɪje ˈɡorɨ * tr, Kafkas Dağla ...

. * Mirzayi (

: ''Mirzəyi'') is traditionally played at wedding parties and performed by men and women with handkerchiefs in their hands. * Nalbeki (''Nəlbəki'', meaning "saucer") is a women's dance performed with dance saucers and cups. This dance was composed by the Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. Alibaba Abdullayev was the first in the World to use the saucer and cups in a dance. This dance is played with two musics. The first music was composed by

composer Qylman Salahov. Second one was composed by

composer Telman Hajiyev. * (

: ''3 nömrə. 4 nömrə. 5 nömrə. 6 nömrə.'' - meaning "Number 3, Number 4, Number 5, Number 6") are famous dance melodies composed in the second half of the 1920s in Baku. Dance 3 and 5, which have slow tempos and doleful melodies, are performed by women. Dances 4 and 6 have a slightly faster tempo and are performed by both women and men. * Tarakama (

: ''Tərəkəmə'') is a dance of a tribespeople performed by both men and women with arms extended and heads up. * Vagzali (

: ''Vağzalı'') is a dance for when the bride departs from her family house to the house of the bridegroom. * Zorkhana ( Persian: Zurkhaneh, meaning "house of strength") is a men's dance that symbolizes courage, bravery, and youthful enthusiasm. * Gaitagi (

: Qaytağı) is a rapid and dynamic dance.
Heyvagulu
(

: Heyvagülü) was choreographed by the Seygah

mugham Mugham ( az, Muğam) or Mughamat ( az, Muğamat) is one of the many classical compositions from Azerbaijan, contrasting with tasnif and ashik. It is a highly complex art form that weds classical poetry and musical improvisation in specific ...

. *

Uzundara Uzundara or ouzoundara ( hy, Ուզունդարա; az, Uzundərə; ka, უზუნდარა) is a lyrical ArmenianУзандара // Краткий словарь танцев / под ред. проф. А.В. Филиппова. — Мос ...

(Uzundərə): is a historical Azerbaijani folk dance. Meaning “a long gauge”, is a long dance performance. It was traditionally performed when the bride and bridegroom are on the road. The melody of this dance was first processed and pitched by Azerbaijani composer

Uzeyir Hajibeyov Uzeyir bey Abdulhuseyn oghlu Hajibeyov ( az, Üzeyir bəy Əbdülhüseyn oğlu Hacıbəyov; russian: Узеир Абдул-Гусейн оглы Гаджибеков, translit=Uzeir Abdul-Guseyn ogly Gadzhibekov; September 18, 1885November 23, 19 ...

(1885-1948).

(1885-1948) used melody of ''Uzundere'' in his second operetta "O olmasın, bu olsun" (1911) * Turajy (''Turacı''): is a women's dance that includes lyrics. This dance based on Mahur

. * Yuz bir (''Yüz bir'', meaning "one hundred and one"): is a little quick dance played by both women and men. The music of the dance based on Shushter

and played with Azerbaijani folk instrument Balaban. Shushter is longing and lyrical. One hundred and one is a mystical number belonging to the eastern realm. There is also a hypothesis that in ancient folk festivals in Azerbaijan, musicians created impromptu dances and numbered them in order not to forget. For example: (

: "Üç. Dörd. Beş. On dörd" meaning "Three. Four. Five. Fourteen".) *

Sari Gelin ''Sari Gelin'' ( az, Sarı Gəlin, , ; fa, دامن کشان, Dâman Kešân) or Sari Aghjik ( hy, Սարի աղջիկ, Sāri Āγčīk) is the name for a number of folk songs popular among the people of Iran, the southern Caucasus (most promine ...

(''Sarı Gəlin''): is an Azerbaijani folk dance. This dance is performed under the music of Azerbaijani version of the song ''Sarı Gəlin''. The melody of the song was first processed and pitched by Azerbaijani composer

Asaf Zeynally Asaf Zeynalabdin oglu Zeynally ( az, Asəf Zeynallı), also spelled Zeynalli (5 April 1909, Derbent – 27 October 1932, Baku), was an Azerbaijani composer. Early life Asaf Zeynally was the third child of the gardener Zeynalabdin and his wife A ...

(1909-1932). * Naz elama (''Naz eləmə'' or ''Naznazı'' meaning "Don't flirt" or "Don't play"): is dance with two heroes: a boy and a girl. The author of the music and structure of this dance was great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. Starting from 1942, he performed this dance with Leyla Badirbeyli, later Amina Dilbazli, Shafiqa Amirova and Tutu Hamidova. This dance celebrates the feelings of love between two people. This love is shown by dance moves and facial expressions. * Qaval (''Qaval rəqsi''): is a national dance played by women with a dayereh in her hand. This dance was composed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev while he was working in Azerbaijan State Dance and Song Ensemble. For the first time in 1959 dancer Emine Dilbazi performed this dance with the lyrical music of composer Gylman Salahov. Alibaba Abdullayev was the first to use the qaval in a dance. Great

composer

Eldar Mansurov Eldar Bahram oglu Mansurov ( az, Eldar Bəhram oğlu Mansurov / , ; born February 28, 1952) is an Azerbaijani musician, composer and songwriter. He is the son of musician Bahram Mansurov. His younger brother Elkhan Mansurov is also a musici ...

also composed music for (''Qaval rəqsi''). * Qıtqılıda (''Qıtqılıda rəqsi''): is a historical and national woman's dance that originated in Azerbaijan in 1860–1870. This dance was first staged by famous Azerbaijani composer

in his second operetta ''O olmasın, bu olsun'' (1911). The creator and first performer of this dance was famous accordionist Teyyub Damirov. This dance was first processed and pitched in 1937 by Said Rustamov. * Ganjlik (''Gənclik'' or ''Bəy''): is a male dance. This dance was composed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev in the 1950s. And first time performed by Azerbaijani dancer Ramiz Mammedov. * Nagara (''Nağaraçılar rəqsi''): is a national Azerbaijani male dance with nagara (drum).This dance was composed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. Alibaba Abdullayev was the first to use the

Naqareh The ''naqareh'', ''naqqāra'', ''nagara'' or ''nagada'' is a Middle Eastern drum with a rounded back and a hide head, usually played in pairs. It is thus a membranophone of the kettle drum variety. The term ''naqqāra'' (), also ''naqqarat'', ...

in a dance. * Kochari (''Köçəri''): is a kind of Yalli, the historical and national dance of Azerbaijan. This dance is a rhythmic, mainly played with a balaban and nagara (drum). * Mahsul (''Məhsul''): This dance was composed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. The music of this dance was composed by Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Bulaq bashinda (''Bulaq başında'') This dance was composed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev. The music of this dance was composed by Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Azerbaijan Suite (

: ''Azərbaycan Suitası'' or ''Azərbaycan toyu'') This dance was composed by great dancer and choreographer Tanxo Izrailov. The music of this dance was composed by Azerbaijani composer

Tofig Guliyev Tofig Alakbar oglu Guliyev ( az, Tofiq Ələkbər oğlu Quliyev, tr, Tevfik Elekber oğlu Guliyev; 7 November 1917, Baku – 4 October 2000, Baku) was a Soviet and Azerbaijani composer, pianist, and conductor. Biography Tofig Guliyev was born in ...

. * Agh chichek (''Ağ çiçək''): This dance composed by Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Roza Jalilova. The music of this dance composed by great Azerbaijani composer Emin Sabitoglu * Incelik (''İncəlik''): is a historical Azerbaijani dance. The music of this dance was composed by the great Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Dostluq (''Dostluq rəqsi''): This dance was composed by a great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev in (1956). The music of this dance composed by great Azerbaijani composer Suleyman Alasgarov. * Toy (''Toy rəqsi'' meaning "wedding dance"): This dance was composed by a great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Alibaba Abdullayev and the music of dance composed by great Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Qazakhi (''Qazaxı rəqsi''): national dance of

Qazakh District Qazax District (; az, Qazax rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-west of the country and belongs to the Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region. The district borders the district of Aghstafa, and the Tavush Province ...

. The music of the dance is based on Mahur

and first processed and pitched by great

composer

in (1936). * Lyric dance ('' Lirik rəqs''): This dance choreoghraphed by great Azerbaijani dancer and choreographer Afaq Melikova and music of the dance was composed by great

composer

. * Suzen Gizlar ('' Süzən qızlar''): This dance was choreographed by Tanxo Izrailov and Afaq Melikova. The music of the dance was composed by great Azerbaijani composer Jahangir Jahangirov. * Odlar Yurdu (meaning: The Land of Fire): This dance was choreographed by great

dancer and choreographer Afaq Melikova. The music of the dance was composed by great

composer

. *Gobustan (''Qobustan rəqsi''): This dance was choreographed by great

dancer and choreographer Afaq Melikova. The music of the dance was composed by great

composer

. * Ilk Bahar (''İlk Bahar rəqsi''): This dance was choreographed by Ilya Ilich Arbatov. The music of the dance was composed by great

composer Jahangir Jahangirov.

During Nowruz

(meaning "a new day" in Persian, spelled as ''Novruz'' in Azerbaijani) is an ancient celebration of the Iranian

New Year New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system ...

and spring and the renewal and fertility to come. Nowruz is observed on the day of vernal equinox in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

and as far east as

Tajikistan Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...

and as far west as the Kurdish regions of

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

Novruz in Azerbaijan Novruz in Azerbaijan ( az, Novruz Bayramı) is a traditional holiday which celebrates the Persian New Year and the coming of Spring. When Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, the celebration of Novruz was generally unofficial and at times ev ...

is a family holiday that ends with festive public dancing and other entertainment of folk bands.

Musical archaeology

Archaeological research connects the musical culture of modern-day Azerbaijan with

Mesolithic The Mesolithic ( Greek: μέσος, ''mesos'' 'middle' + λίθος, ''lithos'' 'stone') or Middle Stone Age is the Old World archaeological period between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic. The term Epipaleolithic is often used synonymo ...

rock carvings depicting dancing people at the archaeological sites in Qobustan and Nakhchivan.Sturman, Janet (ed,)
"The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture"
University of Arizona, 2019. pp.289-290.

References

Azerbaijani Dance in Iran
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azerbaijani Dances