The regions of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia are home to a vast array of folk dance traditions that reflect centuries of cultural exchange, migration, and shared heritage across ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road. Folk dances in these areas often feature rhythmic footwork, expressive gestures, and distinctive regional music, serving as integral parts of weddings, festivals, and communal celebrations. In the Middle East, circle and line dances such as the
Dabke are performed across
Lebanon,
Syria,
Palestine, and
Jordan. Central Asian traditions include energetic group dances such as the
Attan of
Afghanistan and the
Lezginka found across the
Caucasus and
Central Asia. In South Asia, folk dances such as
Bhangra and
Giddha from
Punjab,
Garba and
Dandiya Raas from
Gujarat, and the
Kummi and
Kolattam dances of southern India express agricultural, seasonal, and social themes through movement and music. •
Ardah •
Armenian dance •
Assyrian folk dance •
Azerbaijani dances •
Bihu, an
Assamese dance celebrating the arrival of spring, traditionally the beginning of the Assamese New Year •
Attan - The national dance of Afghanistan. Also a popular folk dance of the
Pashtun tribes of Pakistan, including the unique styles of Quetta and Waziristan in
Pakistan. •
Belly Dance •
Bhangra, a
Punjabi harvest dance in Pakistan and India, and a music style that has become popular worldwide. •
Chitrali Dance -
Chitral, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. •
Circassian dance •
Circle dance •
Dabke, a folk dance of the
Levant •
Domkach, folk dance of
Bihar and
Jharkhand, India •
Garba Circular Devotional dance from Gujarat danced the world over •
Israeli folk dance •
Kalbelia is one of the most sensuous dance forms of
Rajasthan, performed by the kalbelia tribe •
Khattak Dance -
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. •
Khigga, a common folk dance among
Assyrian people •
Kurdish dance •
Luri dances •
Lewa (folk dance) -
Baluch folk dance in Pakistan. •
Mazanderani dances •
Middle Eastern Dance •
Chaap (traditional Baloch folk dance in Pakistan) •
Thabal chongba • Kyushtdepdi - The national dance of
Turkmenistan •
Yowlah India India has a rich and diverse tradition of folk dances, reflecting its regional, linguistic, and cultural variety. Nearly every state and community maintains distinctive dance forms associated with agricultural cycles, festivals, rituals, and social gatherings. In northern India, dances such as
Bhangra and
Giddha from
Punjab and
Rouf from
Jammu and Kashmir celebrate seasonal and festive occasions, while in western India,
Garba and
Dandiya Raas from
Gujarat, and
Lavani from
Maharashtra, blend rhythm and storytelling. Eastern India features dances such as
Chhau of
Odisha,
Jharkhand, and
West Bengal, and
Bihu from
Assam, whereas in southern India, forms such as
Kummi,
Kolattam, and
Oppana are performed during festivals and community events. These dances often emphasize collective participation, traditional costume, and regionally distinct music and instruments.
Sri Lanka Main folk dances of Sri Lanka which are associated with folk activities and festivities are; Leekeli (Stick Dance) Kalagedi (Pot Dance) PolKatu (Coconut Dance) Kulu (Harvesting Dance) Rupathnari is a traditional dance form, one of many varied vibrant, cultural and traditional dances of the island nation.
Dance styles of Sri Lanka ==East and Southeast Asia==