Folk dancing has very deep roots here in North Cyprus and in fact, across Cyprus as a whole.  The rich history of this island means that its culture and arts such dancing have been influenced by many centuries and the traditions of the latter are being kept alive and well with folk dancing displays being given to the pubic on a regular basis. 

Dances were usually performed on big occasions such as at weddings and harvest days, but because of their popularity with the visiting public, and due to efforts by local folk arts organisation HASDER, dancing has now become something of an international ‘sport,’ with folk dancing competitions taking place in TRNC in which countries from all over the world participate.

One dance you are likely to see in North Cyprus that features both men and women is the traditional ‘kartchilamas’, this is a series of different dances combined, where dancers hold each others wrists and form a circle.  There are twelve basic steps and one main dancer leads the rest, with separate dances performed by both the men and women, with the men throwing swords into the air and catching them, and women dancing with clay pots, depicting their role as providers.

Dancers look brilliant in their traditional colourful attire, and dances can sometimes last for half an hour or so, meaning that training and practice is paramount to enable the performers to carry on for this amount of time!  North Cyprus folk dancing dresses come in a variety of colours depending on which area they are from, and they feature a long colourfully embroidered overdress called the Ucetek.  Brightly coloured shoes and a headscarf with tinkling gold coins are also worn to finish off the costume.  Men usually wear white shirts with black trousers and knee length boots, with a splash of colour provided by a bright waistcoat with a handkerchief, and a fez hat.

If you see a folk dance at a festival in North Cyprus it is likely to be performed to a taped version of the music, but sometimes you may be lucky enough to see the musicians accompanying them with instruments such as the ‘darbuka’ and ‘davul’ which are forms of drums, the ‘zurna’ which is a traditional reed instrument with a middle eastern sound, and also the violin – and sometimes even the mandolin and accordion.

There are also yearly international folk dance festivals and competitions on the island, and countries such as Russia, Serbia, Turkey and even Nigeria and Taiwan are invited to participate in a week-long celebration of traditional folk dancing.  Municipalities from Gönyeli and Iskele amongst others have folk dancing groups that also get to travel and show their art in other countries and at worldwide competitions.

One organisation, formed originally in 1977, is HASDER, its a folk arts foundation and initiative that aims to promote traditional Turkish Cypriot culture – from folk dancing to furniture making – and they have done a lot to instil the importance of Turkish Cypriot culture.

HASDER, otherwise known as The Folk Arts Association, has been in existence since 1977 and is based in the centre of Lefkoşa.  Originally with just a few members, the group’s aims are to promote Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot folklore through study, research and public participation.

They are now recognised as the most prominent organisation in North Cyprus for everything related to folklore – from dancing to crafts – and they have done much to bring original traditions back to life and to the forefront of today’s culture, particularly through their strong connections within the youth community.

HASDER have produced many papers and studies on art and culture in North Cyprus which have been used by the Ministry of Education, and they have strong ties with other groups on the south of the island.  They work to ensure that young people in North Cyprus see their Greek Cypriot counterparts as part of the same culture.  Started in 1997, the organisation’s Youth Club now has around 120 members aging from 12 to 30, which is a great testament to their hard work in encouraging youngsters to keep their cultural heritage alive.  HASDER also get involved in subjects such as folk dancing, environmental projects and amateur concerts.

As part of their operations, HASDER also has an institute which is situated at the old St. Lukes Church, next to the Selimiye Mosque in Lefkoşa.  Here traditional methods are used to make handicrafts to sell and display.  Originally funded by US AID and the UN Development Programme, HASDER’s funds are now almost entirely raised through the institute.  The aim of the institute is not only to produce, display and sell handicrafts that use colours, patterns and motifs authentic to Cyprus, but also to give courses in handicrafts to revive this part of the Cyprus culture.

Women come from various villages in North Cyprus to demonstrate their art and skills, and to teach others who would like to carry on these traditions.  In the past such individuals have shown exhibitions on silk-work needlework and wicker weaving for example, and they have held vocational workshops for interested parties.  HASDER has also been active in staging folkloric-traditional plays and sketches, and have helped stage several local performances which have proved very popular and successful.

HASDER are also involved in the organisation of the International Folk Dance Festivals held in North Cyprus, which have the purpose of contributing to the Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot culture.  At such events there is strong emphasis on the children’s and youth element.  The organisation has been involved internationally through the provision of workshops in countries such as Germany, and their members have represented North Cyprus in folk dancing competitions not just in TRNC, but in numerous other nations too.

You can find out more about HASDER and its activities, its mission and its members, as well as about events being held via their website Hasder.

These venues not only draw the crowds, they draw some significant names as well, and are famous for hosting both classical and modern music events.  Prominent musicians take part in many of these events, and famous Turkish Cypriot national Turgay Hilmi, who himself is an artist of international fame, features heavily in the promotion of these events.

If you’re not particularly into music then there are plenty of local town and village festivals held every year such as the Olive Festival in Zeytinlik, and the Eco-tourism festival in Büyükkonuk.  These give a great introduction to the island, and an insight into traditional Turkish Cypriot culture.

Other events which may be of interest are the regular trade fairs, which form part of the festival season, these are held at the ‘Fuar’ venue in Lefkoşa.  These events often turn into a family outing, with a funfair, music and great cooking all enjoyed!  There is also an international film festival in North Cyprus which of course features foreign language films, so you have to be careful which one you pick to go and watch as it may not be in your native tongue!

Below is a list of the most regular festivals and the months in which they usually occur.  Exact dates vary from year to year, so keep an eye on this site and the local press for updates: -

April/May – International Spring Concerts

May – International Film Festival

June – Iskele International Folk Dance Festival

June/July – Güzelyurt Orange Festival & Iskele Festival

June/July – International Bellapais Music Festival

July – Esentepe Apricot Festival / Gönyeli Folk Dance Festival / Alsancak Folk Dance Festival

August – Mehmetçik Grape & Wine Festival

August – Yeniboğaziçi Pulya Festival

August – Golden Grapes Film Festival

September/October – North Cyprus International Music Festival

September/October – International Carob Festival

October – Zeytinlik Olive Festival

October – Büyükkonuk Eco-Tourism Festival

If you would like to know more about some of these events, please visit our more in-depth article on Festivals in our See & Do Section.