Turkish Black Sea region folk dance tradition.

Where did the Horon originate?

The Horon originated in Turkey (Black Sea region).

Dance History›Global Middle Eastern & Arab Classical & Folk›Horon

Global Middle Eastern & Arab Classical & FolkHOX

Horon

OriginTurkey (Black Sea region)

EraOrigin undated

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.

Horon — In Depth

Origin & history: Horon (called horan in Ordu and Giresun) is the signature folk dance of the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, danced from the Samsun area to the Georgian border. The word appears in a Turkic language as early as the 1303 Codex Cumanicus and is etymologically linked to the ancient Greek choros (dance); some accounts tie it to ancient sun-worship ritual. It corresponds to the serra war dance of the Pontian Greeks and resembles the ancient Greek Pyrrhic armed dance. Researchers have documented more than fifty variations within a single region.

Cultural & social context: Horon is performed at weddings, engagements, highland (yayla) festivals, and military send-offs throughout the Black Sea region, by groups of men, of women, or in mixed formation (karma horon), and is a strong marker of Laz and broader Black Sea identity.

Character & feel: The dance demands exceptional speed, agility, and skill, with a taut, quivering intensity often likened to the shivering of freshly caught anchovy (hamsi), a Black Sea staple.

Technique & movement: Dancers link arms, hands, and shoulders in a line or semicircle and perform fast shoulder shimmies, whole-body trembling, sudden squats, sweeping arm movements like wings, and tightening and opening of the ranks in unison.

Music & rhythm: The characteristic instruments are the Black Sea kemence (a small upright fiddle) and the tulum (bagpipe), sometimes joined by davul-zurna or clarinet, with brisk, complex rhythms.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horon ; https://www.allaboutturkey.com/horon.html

Horon Music & Tempo

Drawn from 15 Horon tracks in the LODance music library.

Example tracks at practice tempo

Horon Kurma Havası — Sadık Karadeniz
Anzer Titreme — Karadeniz 4.0
Kaynaklı Rize — Karadeniz 4.0
Dik Horon — Karadeniz 4.0
Abdinin Rizesi / Sırtlı Horonu / Yeni Çano / Sık Rize - Hemşin Tulum — Karadeniz 4.0
Sürmene Sallaması — Sadık Karadeniz

Browse & play all 15 Horontracks in the Music Library →

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

Class — group instruction; comfort first.

Practice — rehearsal; dress like the dance.

Social — public dance floor; smart casual to formal.

Competition — judged events; rule-bound costume.

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.

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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.

Evolution of Dance Attire →Shop the look · Gear Guide →

Sources & Further Reading

Cultural & Historical Context

Horon emerged from Turkey (Black Sea region). 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 Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.

Last reviewed: August 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.