Global Middle Eastern & Arab Classical & Folk
Dance traditions from the Middle East, North Africa, and Levant, including classical court dances, Sufi spiritual dances, and folk traditions.
10 dance styles in this genre
Dance Styles
Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance)
Fluid, undulating hip and torso movements; blends grace with strength; Turkish and Lebanese variations.
Tanoura
Egyptian Sufi-origin folk dance performed at celebrations; dancers in colorful skirts spin in trance-like state.
Dabke
Levantine circle folk dance with synchronized group movements; part of shared cultural landscape.
Khaleegy
Traditional dance of the Arabian Gulf region.
Ardah
Traditionally performed by sword-wielding men in lines; celebration of martial prowess.
Guedra
Trance-inducing desert dance with hand movements followed by head and torso swinging.
Mevlevi Sema (Whirling Dervish)
Sufi spiritual meditation through whirling; seeks connection with Allah by abandoning ego; UNESCO Heritage (2005).
Halay
Turkish folk circle dance performed at celebrations.
Horon
Turkish Black Sea region folk dance tradition.
Zeybek
Solo Turkish male folk dance showing off athletic prowess.