The effect of zeybek dance practiced for six weeks on physical fitness

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Aydin region zeybek dance applied to female university students for 6 weeks on some physical fitness parameters. This study consisted of a total of 40 female participants, a test group of 22 participants, and a control group of 18 participants who had not had any regular physical activity between the age of 18-26 and who had not received any zeybek dance training before. The test group was practiced Aydin region zeybek women's dance for 3 days a week, with a 2-hour-session each, totally for 6 weeks, with a 60-70% of the maximal heart rate – movement speed. The tests were repeated twice, before and after the application. In these measures, vertical jump, speed, agility, balance measurements were taken. According findings of the research, when the groups' pre-test and post-test scores of the 6-week-Aydın zeybek women's dance training were compared, there were significant differences in the test group's 30 m speed, agility and balance tests measurement values, while there were no significant differences in their vertical jump test measurement values. When the comparisons were made between the groups, there were no significant differences in the vertical jump test measurement values although there were significant differences in the 30 m speed, agility and balance test measurement values on behalf of the test group. According to the findings obtained, it was found that zeybek dance increased some physical fitness values. According to these results, with its social and entertaining features, zeybek dance can be suggested as a different activity method that can be applied in order to improve some physical fitness parameters. Key Words: Folk dance, agility, balance, speed