Horon with kemenche virtuoso Yusuf Cemal Keskin, Turkey 2007.

The horon (Greek: Horos [masculine noun, singular form, nominative]), which derives from the Greek word choros (Greek: (ο) Χορός), Turkish: Horon, is a dance style of Pontus found in the Black Sea region, now modern Turkey. Pontian dance retains the aspects of Greek and Turks dance styles. The dances called Horoi (Greek: Χοροί), singular Horos (Greek: Χορός) meaning literally "dance" in both Ancient (cf. also (η) όρχησις) and modern Greek language, are circular in nature and are each characterized by distinct short steps.

A unique aspect of Pontian dance is the tremoulo (Greek: Τρέμουλο), which is a fast shaking of the upper torso by a turning of the back on its axis. Many Pontian dances are almost identical in steps to Greek dances. Pontian dances also resemble Persian and Middle Eastern dances in that they are not led, with no single leader in the dance formation. This is different from Greek dances but is a widespread aspect of Persian and Middle Eastern dances.

The rapid shoulder and upper body movements from the waist is said to have evolved from the modern Turkish version dating to recent centuries. These movement are said to have derived from the shimmying of the little silver anchovy fish (Turkish: Hamsi) found in mass abundance in the Black Sea, which has worked its way into an inseparable part of northern Anatolian culture. As Pontian populations, were exposed to these dances later, it is said that long sea journeys and merchant exchanges, or perhaps throughout the migration of troops as far away as Ireland en route to the Holy Land were also exposed to these dance styles. It is thought the Irish jig and even its modern version, the River Dance, may have its roots from this exposure.

Horon types [edit]

• Omal - (Grk. ομάλ)- meaning calm or Turkish Düz horon
• Tik - (Grk. τικ) - from perpendicular in Turkish Dik
  • Argon - (Grk. αργόν) - meaning slow
  • Tromakton - (Grk. τρομαχτόν) - meaning fiercely or Tr. Titreme horonu
  • So gonaton - (Grk. σο γόνατο) - meaning on the knee
  • Langefton - (Grk. λανγκευτόν) - meaning jumping or hopping
  • Karslidikon - (Grk. καρσλίδικον) - meaning from Kars
  • Diplon - (Grk. διπλόν) - meaning double.
• Dipat or Giavaston - (Grk. διπάτ) - meaning double step or Tr. İkiayak horon
• Ters (from Kioumoush Maten) - (Grk. τερς)- meaning wrong or incorrectly from Turkish term ters
• Ters (from Ak Dag Maten) - (Grk. τερς) - meaning wrong or incorrectly from Akdağmaden town in Yozgat
• Tas - (Grk. τας)
• Trigona (from Trapezounta) - (Grk. τρυγόνα; meaning pigeon in Greek) or Turkish Dirvana
• Trigona (from Matsouka) - (Grk. τρυγόνα)
• Trigona (from Kerasounda) - (Grk. τρυγόνα)
• Seranitsa (from Trapezounta) - (Grk. σερανίτσα) or Laz horon from Laz people of Turkey
• Seranitsa (Sheriana) - (Grk. σερανίτσα)
• Serra ^{[disambiguation needed]} - (Grk. σέρρα) - named after the region Serra or Turkish Sıksara horon
• Masher or Maheria (Grk. Μαχαίρια) or Pyrecheios (Grk. πυρήχειος, Turkish Bıçak Oyunu) - ancient Greek dance described by the ancient historian Xenophon meaning sound of fire. In the film, The Addams Family, Gomez dances the Masher.
• Kots - (Grk. κοτς) - meaning heel dance
• Kotsari - (Grk. κότσαρι) - meaning Heel dance or Turkish Koçari an Armenian folk dance
• Almatsouk - (Grk. αλματσούκ)
• Titara (Argyropoli) - (Grk. τίταρα)
• Titara (Kars) - (Grk. τίταρα)
• Giurvalandun - (Grk. γιουρβαλαντούν)
• Samson - (Grk. σαμσόν) - from Samsun
• Etere - (Grk. έτερε)
• Karsilamas - (Grk. καρσιλαμάς) - from Kars or Turkish Karşılama from Turkish Karşılama meaning "face to face"
• Pipilomatena - (Grk. πιπιλομάτενα) - meaning soft eyes
• Tsurtuguzus - (Grk. τσουρτούγουζους)
• Momogera - (Grk. μομόγερα) - meaning immature old men or Turkish Momoyer
• Atsiapat - (Grk. ατσιαπάτ)
• Gemura - (Grk. γέμουρα) - meaning from Gemura from Yomra town, Trabzon
• Diplon Omal - (Grk. διπλόν ομάλ) - meaning double calm
• Kalon Korits - (Grk. καλόν κορίτσ) - meaning good girl
• Kymishanalidikon - (Grk. κιμισχαναλίδικον) - meaning from Gumushane
• Dolme - (Grk. ντολμέ)
• Utsai - (Grk. ούτσαϊ)
• Sarikuz - (Grk. σαρικουζ) from Turkish sarı kız meaning Turkish "blonde girl"
• Siton - (Grk. σιτόν)
• Tamsara (Tamzara) - (Grk. τάμσαρα) from Tamzara town, Giresun
• Tyrfon - (Grk. τυρφόν)
• Fona - (Grk. φόνα)
• Hala-Hala - (Grk. χάλα-χάλα)
• Halai (Halay) - (Grk. χαλάϊ)

External links [edit]

• Horon: Pontic folk dances

See also [edit]

• Pyrrhichios