War dance

Papuan war dance from Yapen, Papua province, Indonesia.

A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like settings for various reasons, such as for evoking ferocity in preparation for battle or showing off skill in a more stylized manner. It could also be for celebration of valor and conquest. Many such martial arts incorporate music, especially strong percussive rhythms.

War dances

Examples of war dances include:

Capoeira is a martial art traditionally performed with a dance-like flavor and to live musical accompaniment, as seen depicted here.

• Aduk-Aduk – Brunei
• Al Ayala dance – Arabian Peninsula
• Ardah – Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait^[1]
• Baris from Bali, Indonesia
• Bende War Dance from Nigeria
• Buza - From Russia
• Blood walk – Bloods of United States
• Cakalele – Maluku, Indonesia
• Capoeira, as well as some similar Afro-Caribbean arts
• Cibi – Fiji
• Crip Walk – Crips of United States
• Dirk dance and Scottish sword dances – Scotland
• European Sword dance or Weapon dance of various kinds
• Haka – Māori people of New Zealand
• Hako (Rapa Nui) – Easter Island
• Hopak – Ukraine
• Hula & Kapu Kuialua – Native Hawaiians
• Indlamu – Zulu people
• Juego de maní – Cuba
• Kabasaran – Minahasan people, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Kailao – Wallis, adopted by Tonga
• Khattak – Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Khorumi (ხორუმი) – Georgia
• Ohafia War Dance from Eastern Nigeria
• Panther Dance – Burmese Bando with swords (dha)
• Pentozali – Crete
• Pyrrhichios – Greece
• Reggada – Morocco
• Sagayan from the Philippines
• Siva Tau – Samoan war dance
• Tahtib – Egypt
• Takalo - Niue
• Yarkhushta (Յարխուշտա) – Armenia
• Yowla rifle performance – Oman and the United Arab Emirates

See also

References