| The Turkish Cypriot people do their folk-dances at the ceremonious occassions such as marriages, kina nights, harvest days, etc. These dances are generally played in the following sequence : meeting dances, henkerchief dances, “zeybek” dance, women dances, dramatic dances, and butcher dances. Meeting dances are made up of women and men meetings. The women’s dances are generally slower in tempo. |
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Cyprus has been subjected to several civilizations throughout its history. Cyprus Turkish folk dances does not show a single character. Many folk dances bearing several local characteristics of Turkey as well as local characteristics are known. The Turkish Cypriot folk dances is having its characteristics with rather colorful costumes which shows similarities with the costumes worn in Anatolia. Karsilama, sword and sickle, the harvest time, spoon dance and Cyprus bride is the most common folk dance in TRNC. The folk groups usually have performances during the national festival days, weddings, hotels or tourism areas. Also contests are held regularly every year.
If the cultural traditions and customs are of interest to you, we strongly recommend that you attend a folk dancing performance during your stay here in North Cyprus. Folk dancing is one way of gaining a deeper understanding of the Turkish Cypriot life both past and present.
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North Cyprus
