Class References: Kafkazian - Persian - Central Asian

Dance styles from the Caucasus, Iran, and Central Asia to give a taste of each region.

Caucasian/Kafkazian dances:
- Armenian "Wedding dance" -- several styles in one show by Hayastan Dance School [4:14] 

- Armenian women's dance in the "Shoror" genre: ERZEUROMI CHOROR Yerki bari ensemble [3:48]
- Armenian women's traditional dances: Pari Petakan - Zangezour [5:01]

- Azeri dancing at a wedding (particularly check out men's amazing turns at ~7min) [9:48]
- Georgian style of "floating" dance: 

     . Samaia, by male and female, to Westernized music [8:25] 

     . Acharuli, by solo female, Lilia Tkachenko [2:03] 

     . Acharuli by female group in modern dress [2:37]
- Georgian Mountain dance (Mtiuluri):

     . Ensemble Rustavi - mostly male dancing [6:10] 

     . Erisioni Group (mediocre video quality) [6:44] 

     . unnamed group 1 [6:31] 

     . unnamed group 2 [5:34] 

     . in social dance context [2:22]
- "Beryozka": not Kafkazian, but a related and amazing "floating" Russian dance [5:56]
 

Persian/Iranian dances:
- Qajar style (19th Century): 

     . soloist Aspara [5:21]
    . soloist Louchia, performing the "Lady's Toilette" mime [1:28]

     . noted dancer and scholar, Dr. Robyn Friend (Los Angeles) [7:30]
- reconstruction of Robert de Warren choreography by Silk Road Dance Company [1:43]

- Neo-Classical dance inspired by Persian miniature paintings, by Badriyah [3:52]
 

- Bandari -- lively Iranian folk dance from Persian Gulf region, with Persian, Arabic, Indian, and East African influences:
    . by Moein: Bigharar [5:39]  

     . by Jamileh [5:28] 

     . choreography Mohammad Khordadian, performance by Saba Dance Company [5:55]
    . Persian Night at TU Chemnitz, to "Ahvazi" by Sandy [4:30]
    . Bandari Party with sort-of twerking [4:11]
    . Old Style Bandari [3:51]
    . clips of Bandari songs and dance, including Black Cats' "Aftab" [9:35]
 

- Jaheli / Baba Karam - playful dance evoking machismo of the working men of Tehran:
male versions:
    . Davood Asgharian, Portland 1993 [2:57]
    . Mohammad Khordadian [3:13]
    . "Beshkan" by Mansour - not much dancing, but a funny modern music video which plays with the Jaheli stereotype; "Beshkan" is finger snapping [4:04]
female versions wherein women dress like and imitate a man doing Jaheli:
    . by Jamileh [5:25]
    . Sigana , choreographer [4:07]

 

Central Asian dances:

- Uzbek dance: 

     . Majnuntol [4:51] 

     . Bokharan style: at the Nodir Devon Begi Madrasasi [3:10]