weapon dance

A weapon dance employs weapons—or stylized versions of weapons—traditionally used in combat in order to simulate, recall, or reenact combat or the moves of combat in the form of dance, usually for some ceremonial purpose. Such dancing is quite common to folk ritual in many parts of the world. Weapon dancing is certainly ancient; among the earliest historical references we have are those that refer to the pyrrhichios, a weapon dance in ancient Sparta, in which the dance was used as a kind of ritual training for battle. Related to weapon dances and war dances is the dance of the hunt. A very early reference to a weapon dance of the hunt comes in the form of a rock carving at Çatal Höyük, the large neolithic settlement in south-central Anatolia. It depicts a hunting ritual involving dancers holding their bows; one figure has a bow in each hand, two perform artistic leaps and another holds a horn-shaped stick and is striking a frame drum.¶

Europe

Early examples of sword and spear dances can be found amongst the Germanic tribes of Northern Europe, such as those mentioned by Tacitus, the Norse peoples and the Anglo-Saxon tribes. Sutton Hoo is thought to show figures dancing with spears. Other references to such traditions include that in Constantine VII Porphrogenitus’ Book of Ceremonies (from c. 953) which describes the Varangian Guard (a group made up of Norsemen and later English and Anglo-Danish warriors) dancing in two circles, with some wearing skins or masks, along with chants of “Toúl!” and clashing staves on shields. Sword dances exist in some parts of Europe. The weapon may be used to act out mock combat during the dance, or may be incorporated as an element of the dance, intertwining with other swords. In some places, sticks are used instead of swords. Iberian stick dances (paulitos, paloteos, ball de bastons) display two opposite rows of dancers. A common sword dance in Europe is the moresca in Spain, in which the dance recalls the Reconquista from the 12th to 15th centuries. The gun parade of the Moros y cristianos also celebrates these battles, as does the British morris dance. In North Macedonia and Northern Italy, weapon dances may be used to exorcise evil spirits before a wedding. Sabre dancing exists in the Balkans; the most famous is Albanian, where two male rivals simulate a duel over a woman. The Galician jogo do pau involves two rivals with long sticks. Other weapons, such as axes (or wooden versions thereof) may be used in some places. Lance dances, dagger dances, and even rifle dances are in parts of Europe. In the Scottish Highlands, some dances used the lochaber axe, the broadsword, targe and dirk, and the flail.¶

Basque dances

Some of the Basque dances feature weapons. The ezpatadantza ("sword dance") comes from Durango, Spain in the Basque Country and is danced for authorities and in the Feast of Corpus Christi. After the dance, both opposing rows of dancers raise their weapons and form a corridor for the authorities. The ezpatadantza and the makildantza ("stick dance") employ makila (traditional walking sticks), and end with the dancers raising one of them, lying as a fallen warrior, over their heads. In the Basque Country the Okrabario Dantza is performed in Legazpi, Gipuzkoa. It is a sword dance in which a participant dances atop a grid of crossed swords held aloft. In Tolosa during the day on Midsummer, the Bordon-Dantza ("makila dance") is performed with the figures of the ezpatadantza; some point its origins to the border fights in the Middle Ages, when the Castilian troops from Gipuzkoa won an important victory over the troops from Navarre at the Battle of Beotibar. Sticks simulate some weapons, and halberds—a combination of a spear and a battle-axe—are also used.¶

Asia

Baris is a traditional dance of Bali, in which a solo dancer depicts the feelings of a young warrior prior to battle. Originally, Baris was performed as a religious ritual. The dancer may bear a kris, a spear, a bow, or other weapons, depending on the variant performed. The word "Baris" literally means "line" or "file", and referred to the line of soldiers who served the rajas of Bali. The dance is usually performed by men in a group with as few as four dancers and as many as sixty. The ritualistic function of the dance is to show physical maturity by demonstrating military skills, particularly the use of weapons. In China, dances with weapon have been recorded for a long time. The founder of the Han dynasty Liu Bang was said to be fond of the war dance of the Ba people. Large-scale performances of the dance involved the brandishing of various weapons to the accompaniment of drums and songs in the Ba language. It remained popular through the Tang dynasty and spread as far as Central Asia. The development of art dance, in general, in China reached its peak during the Tang dynasty and then was largely integrated into Chinese Opera practice. Tribal weapon dancing may also be present among the original aboriginal tribes on Taiwan (The Republic of China). The Shaolin martial arts employ weapons in ways that are sometimes enjoyed for aesthetic reasons, however, similar to a dance. Shaolin spear, Yezhan spear, Lanmen spear, and sword and stick exercises may be included. Tai chi also incorporates sword practise in a similar way. The Dayak people of Borneo are renowned for their solo sword dances, which show the skill of a young man using a sharp mandau. Also, on the island of Borneo one finds the Lotud, an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah.¶

Middle East and Asia Minor

There are a number of Arab weapon dances, including the razfah. It was originally practiced at Manga in Muscat, prior to going out on a raid; the object of the dance was to "warm up" for the combat to come. Also, on the Arabian Peninsula a dance named Ardah recalls pre-Islamic tribal battles. Two rows of men face one another, clapping, singing, and dancing in a lively manner, accompanied by large frame drums. At the peak of the dance two swordsmen perform a duel between the rows of dancers. The Assyrian minority in Syria have a dramatic folk dance called Shora, which commemorates the bloody battles fought by the Ancient Assyrians back in their time consisting of a leader (usually a man) in front with a sword otherwise known as a saypa and a line of men joining. Generally speaking, a number of dances (known as razfah or yowlah) of Bedouin origin use weapons and have achieved modern popularity in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and are associated with festive occasions among the non-Bedouin sedentary population. In Iran there exists the Çûb-Bâzî ("stick game"; or raqs-e çûb, "stick dance"), a dance form that probably has its origins in reenactments of combat. Essentially, an attacker and a defender duel with poles. The çûb-bâzî is “…both a dance and a show of skill and bravery; participants are judged by their abilities in the combat aspects, as well as by their grace in executing the dance movements.”¶

Africa

In South Africa, such dances as the Zulu Indlamu, the tra…¶

The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Weapon dance”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence.¶

weapon dance is Form of dance using weapons, according to the structured record cited below. This entry was generated automatically from that record and has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition.¹¶

The source record links this tradition to 2 external registers, which can be verified through the citation.¹¶