The mosaic dance of Iran is as vibrant as the country's cultural diversity, and the Iranian dances are the colorful tapestries of practices which permeate the country, as well as the Iranian diaspora. The Luri dances include a range of folk dances popular among different groups of Lur people which have formed, developed and transferred during the subsequent generations. They usually include common Iranian dances; Collective dances and quadrille, the circular arrangement, and the colorful clothing.
History
Due to discovered objects and archeological excavations from Luri-inhabited areas like Kozagaran, Tepe Giyan, Tepe Musiyan, CheghaMish and Kul-e Farah, it is evident that dance history predates the Arian migrations inward the Iranian plateau. Motifs depicting three dancing persons on the pottery discovered and dance portrays on the bronze flags of Luristan of the first millennium BC, musicians and musical instruments depicted on the petroglyphs in Kul-e Farah of Izeh and Cheghamish are the most prominent archaeological evidences showing the value and history of dance in these areas.
Styles
There are many dance styles common in Luri-inhabited areas. The most prevalent Luri dance styles are handkerchief dance, Chupi dances dance that is performed faster than SanguinSama, and Du-Pa, and the stick dance which is a martial show. Harvesting ceremony dances, PaPoshtePa dances, Suwaruna and the mourning dances are of less popular dances. Mourning dances are performed while loved persons are died as Chamariuna among Feylis and also among Great Lur tribes.
Dasmâl-bâzi (Handkerchief dance)
Handkerchief dance also known as scarf dance is a vibrant circle dance style. This dance style is more common among Southern Lurs and Bakhtiari people. This style is usually performed by both male and female persons and includes different performing styles like Ashtafi-manganâ. Men or women may dance and wave colorful scarves, called dastmâl. A dasmâl is held in each hand. In case of the philosophy, it is believed that these dances have originated in the actions the women do in their daily livelihood. As the dance rhythm increases slowly, each person may chooses patterns to perform.
Ču-bâzi (Twig dance)
Ču-bâzi or Chubazi is a special dance double that is performed in the celebrations and joys by Bakhtiari and the southern Lurs and is inspired by the heroic battles. It is usually dance by two men, although sometimes is performed by the women too. One dancer is equipped with a long heavy stick up to four or five feet long. The other whom holds a shorter flexible stick, has to attack the opponent only below the level of the knee. While the dance is accompanied by drum and karnâ, the defender is only allowed to escape the strike by leaping up in the air. The contributors change in turn till the protagaonists are specified. The dancers are surrounded by female and male enthusiastic audiences whom cheer the winners by screams and whistles.
Čupi (Choupi)
In Luri dialects, mass dance styles that are mainly based on leg movements are said Čupi. Mixed male and female dancers hold hands to form rings, hearing the vibrant musics by musicians, they perform different styles of čupi. The leader performer is a skillful dancer whose duty is to lead others and warm up them in accordance with dance music rhythms. Other performers should coordinate the movements and body rhythms with the leader. The dance usually starts with Sangin-Samâ rhythm which is performed slowly, following Sepâ the next rhythm with faster performing and soars when vibrant Dopâ is performing. After a while, the dance concludes to Sangin-Samâ movements in a reversed trend.
Sangin-Samâ
Sangin-samâ is usually the first phase of Čupi mass dance style and includes gentle and slow movements. Performers, initially put their right foot in the form of a cross with left foot, then take it and take two steps forward. Then they put the left foot with the tip of the toe and finally put it aside right foot. The hands bend from elbow and small fingers of dancers, in line with the shoulders, are tied among each other. It seems that each of the gestures and dance components of Sama, has a philosophy retrieved from thousands years of coexistence with humane and natural elements behind it.
Sepâ
In Čupi dance continuum, the second phase is Sepâ which is performed faster and more dynamic than Sangin-Samâ in accordance with speeding up the music rhythm. Dancers start the dance with the right foot and take three steps forward. In Luri dances, like most Iranian group dances, the start of the move is with the right foot. After removing the three steps, the dancers first bend the right leg and then the left foot. The dancers' hands in this dance are tied to each other and their shoulders rely on each other. The literal meaning of dance in Luri, is the bond between hands when dancing.
