Halay

Halay^[a] is a regional category of folk dance styles in central and southeastern Anatolia. The music accompanying the dance is the zurna and davul.[1] It begins slow and speeds up.[1] The word "halay" is thought to have been derived from the verbs "hildan" or "haldan" in Kurdish, but there is no certainty on its etymology. There is effectively no text or paper that affirms the existence of the Kurdish word "hilayi," while Kurdish dances are normally known by the name govend or dîlan. [2][3]

Şexbizinî(Kurdish) dance.

The Ohuokhai dance.

Halay is a traditional dance in Middle East it mostly played during wedding 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.

The Ohuokhai is a simultaneous round dance and song. Dancers form a circle and dance, arm in arm, hand in hand, with the left foot put forward, while making rhythmical, graceful movements with their bodies, legs, feet and arms. A lead singer improvises the lyrics and the other dancers repeat them. This Ohuokhai leader has a special talent not only for singing but also, what is more important, for poetic improvisation. There song leaders compete at the national Yhyakh festival for the best poetic expression, best song and biggest circle.