Circassian dance

{{Short description|Traditional dance of the North Caucasus people}}

Circassian dance is an important and defining part of the culture of Circassian people. The national dances evoke imagery of combat and courtship. They play a role in efforts to preserve Circassian tradition and culture in the diaspora. There are several dances including the kabardinka. The version of this dance performed in Turkey is called Kafkas,{{Cite AV media| people = TRT Avaz| title = Kafkas Dansları - Klasik - Çerkes - TRT Avaz| accessdate = 2018-05-02| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2go1F_OQhs}} from Kafkasya, the Turkish word for the Caucasus mountain region that was home to the Circassian people before the Circassian genocide. Another similar dance is called the lezginka.{{Cite AV media| people = RT| title = Chechen leader Kadyrov dances after voting at national & regional elections| accessdate = 2018-05-02| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMEFQwYoFzc}}

Dancing ability is very important for social standing in Circassian communities, especially with regards to marriage and establishing romantic relationships. Children living in the Adyghe communities in Israel receive dance instruction from a young age as part of their school curriculum.{{Cite book| publisher = Lantern Books| isbn = 978-1-59056-503-2| last1 = Westheimer| first1 = Ruth K.| last2 = Sedan| first2 = Gil| title = The Unknown Face of Islam: The Circassians in Israel| date = 2015-05-01}}

Circassian dances share some common traits with ballet: men dance on the tips of their toes wearing special leather boots. Women move very lightly, gliding across the floor without moving their heads or upper bodies.{{Cite book| publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group| isbn = 978-0-313-33671-3| last = Shoup| first = John A.| title = Culture and Customs of Jordan| date = 2007}}

Circassian men wear a black outfit called a cherkes on stage. It is a military style outfit with an imposing coat and bullet cartridges worn across the chest. Men often wear a dagger, and a dagger or sword may be incorporated into some of the dances.{{Cite book| publisher = Oxford University Press, USA| isbn = 978-0-19-973946-2| last1 = Fisher| first1 = Jennifer| last2 = Shay| first2 = Anthony| title = When Men Dance:Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders| date = 2009-09-07}}

Circassian dances are often performed at national festivals and cultural celebrations.{{Cite book| publisher = G.K. Hall| isbn = 978-0-8161-1815-1| last = Levinson| first = David| title = Encyclopedia of World Cultures: Africa and the Middle East| date = 1995| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofwo0000unse_q6n9}}