Sheshen - Dance of the Anatolian Circassians by Nalmes

Dance of the Anatolian Circassians or locally known as Sheshen is a very popular Circassian dance performed in every wedding and celebration ceremony. Its origin is not known clearly, but modern versions are inspired by Circassians living in Turkey. It has a moderate pace although there are some faster versions mixed with Lezginka in some regions. Every couple performs the dance inside a wide circle surrounded by the crowd and guests. Couples take the floor one by one and show their skills to the community. In this specific dance the woman is in control all the time and floats around with different paces and the man should follow her trying to do his best to get her attention and the crowd’s appreciation. The other men in the circle encourage and support him during the dance with cheers and chants, and sometimes they join the man for a very short period as seen in this choreography @ 4:16. Although there are some basic elements, custom improvisations are very important in Circassian folk.