Introduction

A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare.

Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like settings for various reasons, such as for evoking ferocity in preparation for battle or showing off skill in a more stylised manner.

It could also be for celebration of valour and conquest.

Many such martial arts incorporate music, especially strong percussive rhythms.

Examples of War Dances

• Aduk-Aduk – Brunei
• Ardah – Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait
• Ayyalah – Arabian Peninsula
• Baris – Bali, Indonesia
• Bende War Dance – Nigeria
• Buza – Russia
• Blood walk – Bloods of United States
• Cakalele – Maluku, Indonesia
• Capoeira, as well as some similar Afro-Caribbean arts
• Cibi – Fiji
• Crip Walk – Crips of United States
• Dirk dance and Scottish sword dances – Scotland
• European sword dance or weapon dance of various kinds
• Haka – Māori people of New Zealand
• Hako (Rapa Nui) – Easter Island
• Hopak – Ukraine
• Hula & Kapu Kuialua – Native Hawaiians
• Indlamu – Zulu people
• Juego de maní – Cuba
• Kabasaran – Minahasan people, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Kailao – Wallis, adopted by Tonga
• Khattak – Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Khorumi (ხორუმი) – Georgia
• Ohafia War Dance – Eastern Nigeria
• Panther Dance – Burmese Bando with swords (dha)
• Pentozali – Crete
• Pyrrhichios – Greece
• Razfah – Oman and the United Arab Emirates
• Reggada – Morocco
• Sagayan – Philippines
• Siva Tau – Samoan war dance
• Tahtib – Egypt
• Takalo – Niue
• Yarkhushta (Յարխուշտա) – Armenia
• Yowlah – Oman and the United Arab Emirates

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