Assyrian Dances: Turkey, Syria & Iraq

The Assyrians are an ancient indigenous Christian people of the Middle East with a history that stretches back perhaps as early as the 25th century BC. Their homeland is in Turkey, Iraq and Syria but due to their persecution they now live spread across the world in the diaspora.  Their most famous dance Sheikhane is shared by Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Armenians.  They have a rich culture of communal line dances often with a martial character for men and women.