Horon

Horon is a traditional folk dance widely performed in Türkiye’s Black Sea Region, particularly in the Eastern Black Sea provinces of Rize, Trabzon, Artvin, and Giresun. Horon is performed in various social contexts including weddings, engagements, highland festivals, military send-offs, and holidays. It can be danced by men and women together or separately.

Definition and General Characteristics

Horon is a folk dance characterized by its rhythmic structure, rapid movements, and group performance. It is typically performed in a circle with dancers holding hands, shoulders, or arms. Key figures include knee bends, foot stomping, and shoulder and arm motions. The tempo of the dance often increases over time, accelerating in its final sections. Horon is usually accompanied by instruments such as the kemençe, tulum, davul-zurna, and kaval. Horon dances may be performed with vocal elements or solely with instrumental accompaniment.

Origin

There are various theories regarding the etymology of the word “horon.” Some sources suggest that the Yakut Turkish words “hor,” “kor,” and “hori,” meaning “to repeat” and “to strike in sequence,” evolved over time into the form “horon.” In the Compilation Dictionary, the terms “horum” and “horom” are recorded and used in the Eastern Black Sea region to refer to piles of corn stalks or grass. The connection is drawn due to the resemblance of these piles to the circular formation of the horon dance.

Place in Social Life

Horon is performed in various settings such as weddings, highland migrations, highland nights, and fishing boats. In the past, horon dances were performed for extended periods during multi-day weddings; today, they are more commonly performed in specific segments of weddings held in urban centers.

Horon dances can be performed by women, men, and different age groups. In women’s horon dances, the tempo is slower and movements involving bending to the ground are less frequent. Women’s horon dances often include vocal repetitions known as “nanay,” while mixed-gender dances may feature vocal sections called “atma türkü.” In Hemşin horon, vocal sections known as “fora” are performed with tulum accompaniment.

Horon (Anadolu Agency)

Structural Features of Horon

Horon is performed in a circular formation with a rhythmic structure. Dancers align themselves by holding hands, shoulders, or fingertips. The direction of the dance is typically clockwise. Fundamental movements include raising and lowering the arms, forcefully stomping the feet, bending the knees, jumping, and body sways. The dancers’ bodily movements are inspired by daily life activities. For example, rowing, casting nets, walking on narrow paths, and hurried motions can be observed in horon figures.

Commands

The person leading the horon is generally called the “horon başı.” Dancers are guided by commands such as “Yüksek oyna” (Play high), “al oyna yüksel” (Raise and play), “kalk yürü” (Stand and walk), and “al da yüksel” (Raise again). These commands coordinate foot, arm, and body movements.

Varieties

There are many varieties of horon in the Black Sea Region. While some sources mention nearly fifty types, variations in naming and minor stylistic differences cause this number to fluctuate. Below are some horon types from the Rize region:

• Alika / Allika Horonu: Performed with tulum accompaniment around Pazar and Ardeşen. Composed of four figures.
• Atlama Oyunu: Performed with jumping figures.
• Bakoz Horonu: A slow-tempo horon.
• Çarişka Horonu: A slow dance with fixed figures.
• Hemşin Horonu: Performed with tulum accompaniment and paused figures.
• İki Ayak Oyunu: Performed by two opposing dancers with turning movements.
• Ortaköy Horonu: Emphasizes knee bends and foot stomping.
• Mehmetina Horonu: Performed with three figures.
• Millet Horonu: A command-led horon with structured posture.
• Noktalı Anzer Horonu: Defined by forward-backward movements initiated with the left foot.
• Papilat Horonu: A slow-tempo dance featuring ground descents and sudden stops.
• Rize Horonu: Features strong foot strikes with the right foot and knee pulls.
• Sallama Oyunu: A horon based on foot rhythms.
• Sçano Horonu: A heavy-tempo dance from the Hemşin region.
• Sıksaray: A fast-paced horon with rapid figures.
• Titreme Horonu: A horon in which all figures are performed with trembling motions.
• Yüksek Hemşin Horonu: Begins slowly and accelerates through its figures.

Musical and Melodic Features

Horon is typically accompanied by kemençe, tulum, davul-zurna, and kaval. Regional preferences in instrumentation determine both the rhythm and tempo of the dance. The tulum is especially favored in the Hemşin region, while the kemençe is common along the coast. Most horon songs are anonymous and composed in the mani form. Melodies are predominantly in asymmetric meters such as 5/8, 7/16, and 9/16. Some melodies combine multiple meters. Vocal sections may include expressions such as “yar,” “nazlı yar,” and “sevdiğim.”

Geographical and Cultural Context

The mountainous terrain of the region has helped preserve the traditional structure of horon by limiting external influences. The dance has retained its conventional form in this context. In some areas, folk dance ensembles contribute to the promotion of horon by performing it at various festivals.