Zeybek dance

The zeybek is a Turkish folk dance is mostly danced in the Aegean region and in the western Mediterranean region. The dance is danced in 9/8-Takt in the provinces of Afyon, Aydin, Antalya, Balıkesir, Burdur, Canakkale, Denizli, Isparta, Izmir, Kutahya, Manisa, Mugla and Usak. The name is derived from the Zeybeken, a warrior tribe from the mountains of the Aegean Region.

Until the 1940s, this rhythm was very popular even in Turkey. Even Ataturk danced on February 2, 1938, some months before his death to zeybek, including the Sari Zeybek. The zeybek has prescribed sequence of steps. These are individual or group dances in which the individual dancers perform slow movements independently of each other in a circle. Today there are in Turkey only folkloric pieces with zeybek rhythm. The zeybek is still popular on circumcision ceremonies, events and weddings.

There are numerous types of zeybek which may appear similar and probably have a common origin. The best known among them are Aydın Zeybeği, Tavas Zeybeği, Muğla Zeybeği, Harmandalı, Kerimoğlu Zeybeği, Ibrahim Usta and Avşar Zeybeği.