Halay
The line or circle dance of Turkish and Kurdish weddings, with linked hands or shoulders.
Also: govend, govend halay
The halay is a group dance, led by a person waving a handkerchief, in which dancers hold hands or link little fingers in a line or circle and step together to the beat of drum and pipes. It is danced at almost every wedding in eastern and central Turkey, and in Kurdish regions the equivalent is called govend. Steps, tempo and arm positions differ from village to village. Guests are expected to join in, and the leader sets the pace.
Region: Middle East