Horon



Horon (χορόν; Laz: oxoronu ) is a group of traditional folk dances from the Pontus or Eastern Black Sea Region in Turkey.

Etymology
The term horon derives from Greek choros (χορός, see chorus), which means "dance." The earliest instance of its usage in a Turkic language is in Codex Cumanicus from 1303.

In the provinces of Ordu and Giresun, the term horan is used instead of horon.

Variants
Over 50 variations of horon have been identified in a single region.

Origin
Horon or horonu is the Turkish equivalent of the serra war dance of the Pontian Greeks, resembling the ancient Greek Pyrrhic armed dance.

Dance
The horon is typically performed by a group of men or women in a line or semicircle. This dance form involves fast shoulder shimmy (Greek: Τρέμουλο, tremoulo), trembling of the entire body, and sudden squats. Horon dances require speed and agility in a dancer.