Horon
History & Cultural Context
Horon is a family of traditional folk dances from the Eastern Black Sea (Karadeniz) region of Turkey, performed especially in the provinces of Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, and Giresun. Dancers form a line or circle, linked at the hands or shoulders, and execute rapid footwork, trembling shoulder movements, and synchronized jumps. The dance is most often accompanied by the kemençe (a bowed lyre); in some districts the tulum (bagpipe) or davul-zurna (drum and shawm) is used instead.
The name is generally traced to the Greek choros ("dance"); the earliest recorded use of the term in a Turkic language appears in the Codex Cumanicus (c. 1303), and the form is connected to the older Pontic Greek serra (pyrrichios) war-dance tradition of the region. Horon was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
Track Your Horon Progress
Practice Horon figures between lessons with Figure Focus — step-by-step breakdowns, floor diagrams, and progress tracking. Free to use.
What to Wear
Attire guidance for Horon and other Global Middle Eastern dances. Each card below is sized to the moment — class, practice, social, or competition — because the wardrobe shifts as the stakes do.
Reading the cards
In Class
Comfortable, fitted clothing that shows hip movement. Hip scarves with coins are traditional for belly dance class. Stretchy pants and crop tops or fitted T-shirts.
Social Dancing
Belly dance performances: decorated costumes (bedlah) with beading and fringe. Social dabke and folk dance: comfortable street clothes.
Competition
Elaborate costumes — Egyptian-style cabaret, tribal fusion, or folkloric depending on category. Heavily beaded and embellished.
Shoes
Barefoot is traditional for belly dance. Foot undies or dance paws for stage performances. Folk forms (dabke): flat shoes or boots.
In Practice
Coin hip scarves are essentially audible feedback — beginners use them in every class. Crop tops or fitted tanks show the abdominal isolation an instructor needs to see.
Price Range
- Budget: Coin hip scarf $15–40; practice wear from existing wardrobe.
- Mid: Performance bedlah $200–700; tribal fusion costuming $300–1,000.
- Premium: Egyptian designer cabaret costumes (Bella, Pharaonics, Hanan) $1,200–5,000+.
Key Terms
- Bedlah
- The classic two-piece belly dance costume — embellished bra and belt with skirt or harem pants.
- Coin hip scarf
- Wrap with attached coins worn at the hips during practice; the audible feedback helps train precise hip articulation.
Quick Tips
- •Suede-soled shoes allow controlled sliding and pivoting — essential for most partner dances.
- •Avoid rubber soles on dance floors; they grip too much and can cause knee injuries.
- •Bring a separate pair of clean shoes for the dance floor to keep it in good condition.
Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Horon emerged from Turkey (Black Sea region) during the null (recommended: drop the fabricated 1800 default; if a value is required, use the earliest documented term attestation c. 1303 rather than 1800)s—present day. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Primary Source Documents
The LODance Library contains original syllabi, instructional materials, and published references for dance technique and history. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: May 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
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