Bandari Folk Dances of the Persian Gulf

The coastal region of the Persian Gulf in Iran is referred to as Bandari, which means “harbor” in Persian. The dances of the Bandar region have influences from the diverse populations of the Gulf: Iranian and Arab as well as Indian and East African via the sea trade. All the dances of the Gulf are accompanied by complicated clapping patterns. The women of both sides of the Gulf wear facial masks as modesty garments, which highlight the beauty and intensity of their eyes.