Abstract :
Folk dances have very significant role in socio-cultural life in respect of bringing light to the past and transferring the core elements to the future. They are important cultural riches which reflect the characteristics of the society with its rituals, action, music and rhythm. Although there is not certain information about the source and development of Turkish Folk Dances, some scientific clues help us in order to carry out limited evaluation and make a comment about them. Central Asia which is the former homeland of Turks and shamanism have great influence on Anatolian culture. Thus, when structural features of folk dances are analyzed, particularly the belief of shaman and totem are intensively felt. The concept of belief is an inseparable part of the concepts of society and culture. Because, throughout the history, religious beliefs and practices based on them have been influential on all cultures and this will go on so. In this study, traces of old Turkish beliefs in today’s folk dances and their new forms are determined and portrayed thus the result of interactions between them are examined. Firstly the existence of hen and Crane in the system of beliefs and their sphere of influence are put forth by analyzing them. Especially, the traces of shamanism and totemism are studied in Erzurum Bar of hen and Crane from the point of view that rituals in barsa re the remains of old beliefs.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Shamanism , Totemism , Turkish Folk Dances , Erzurum Bars
