Examination Turkish folk dances in movement science and cultural perspective (The case of Turkey)

Folk dances, which are one of the most important elements of Turkish culture and folklore, have been examined in detail from the cultural and artistic point of view. However, it is impossible to say that the folk dances are examined sufficiently in terms of language, literary relation and sportive competence. It has been mentioned that folk dances are composed of music and movement, that they are an integral part of each other, and a lot of work has been done in this direction. However, verbal expressions in folk dances are not mentioned sufficiently, detailed studies in this direction have not been made as necessary. Although the element verbal expressions in folk dances is not used much today, more than half of folk dances have these verbal expressions. Especially, almost all of our female plays are verbal. Words and dance are two separate elements. Therefore, the folk dances are composed of music, words, and movement. It is obvious that our folk dances are made of movement. However, although the movement in folk dances has been examined until now, it can be said that the researches are lacking of physical, physiological and kinesiological aspects in particular. When it is thought that the folk dances are made up of systematic movement models, it is important to examine the place where the movement patterns of the skeletal and muscular system occur, because it is the skeleton and muscles that enable movement to take place. In the light of all this, one of the aims of this study is to reveal the relation between dance and lyrics as well as to draw attention to the place and importance of Turkish folk dances in the cultural context. Our other goal is to examine the activation rates of some muscles used in folk dances kinesiologically (science of movement). For this purpose, EMG / ENMG (Electroneuromyography) technique was utilized in the research. EMG refers to the printing of electrical signals from nerves and muscles. The activation rates of some muscle groups used during the Turkish folk dances were determined by EMG technique. The study was carried out on the "main muscle group" and dances were performed by tying electrodes on the muscles of M. Tibialis Anterior and M. Quadriceps Femoris muscles, Flexor DigitorumSuperficialis and M. Biceps Brachii muscles in the backs, and LongissimusThoracis and Trapezius muscles in the back region. The muscles used in the research were selected by taking the opinions of the field experts. The minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviations of the measurement results obtained as a result of muscular contractions during the dance are given in the tables. Considering the movement and structural properties in the scale of Turkey, 42 dances have been identified among the ones which differ from each other,and these dances have been examined in the study. The dances identified were performed by two male dancers, whose body structures, muscle structures and lifestyles are very similar. They had a history in Turkish folk dances and graduated from the department of Turkish Folk Dance of the conservatory.