Khorasan′s Wooden Horse Ceremonial DanceAnalysis and Investigation

Dances have been always noticed as an important cultural phenomenon over time. Ceremonial dancesanalysis and investigation which is presenting deep stories of history and myths can be effective to understandthese dances better. Khorasan as an ancient land with magnificent geography is been full ofvicissitudes in epochs, which today′s ceremonies have been deriving from those old histories.Fortunately, lots of researches have been done about Eastern Khorasan′s dances. However, we didn’tconduct any comprehensive research yet about another common ceremonial dance called ʺWoodenHorse Danceʺ which they are performing in different cities or even in other countries.This article with using different methods like: field observations, library researches and interviewswith some of professional dancers, tries to achieve a comprehensive analysis and undertesting about thewooden horse dance concept and form in Khorasan area.After Mongol invasion to Khorasan, wooden horse dance formed, and it was used as a camouflage inpracticing army motions and fake wars in front of opponents.

Keywords:

Ceremonial dances , Wooden Horse Dance , Khorasan , Myth .