Ethnochoreological evaluation of Erzurum region folk dances

One of the basic needs of human beings is to express themselves. For this reason, dance provides a wide space where people can freely express their feelings and thoughts. Movements and gestures in the form of expression of dance, which is a means of nonverbal communication, bear traces of cultural and traditional textures as well as biological factors. In this context, Erzurum region has studied the cultural traces and traditional dances it has carried since ancient times in detail from an ethnochoreological perspective. Erzurum has been home to many civilizations throughout history due to its strategic location. This situation has played a significant role in the enrichment of the cultural heritage of the city. Traditional dances are not only intended for entertainment, but also represent social unity, solidarity, beliefs and rituals. These dance forms have been shaped in harmony with the climate and geographical structure of the region. Ethnochoreology is a discipline that aims to explore the cultural context and meaning of dance. Ethnochoreology questions the history of dance and the methods of its study. Dance historians and musicologists usually study dance from their own cultural perspectives, while ethnochoreologists and ethnomusicologists take a broader perspective and prioritize cultural relativity. With this approach, they try to examine social structures and cultural contexts in detail in order to analyse the meaning of dance. This study reveals the deep and multidimensional functions of traditional dances in society, emphasizing the value and importance of preserving cultural heritage. Ethnochoreological studies show that traditional dances go beyond for being just aesthetic performances and undertake the mission of protecting the cultural richness and identity of societies and transferring them to the future.