IMPROVISATION ART IN THE TRADITION OF TURKISH FOLK DANCES

Abstract

Improvisation is a term used for a performance art form that has existed in many different cultures and periods. Throughout history, people have developed the ability to improvise in music, theater, dance, and other performing arts, utilizing key elements such as quick thinking, originality, and freedom.

There are many studies in the literature about the art of improvisation. These works contain rich information about the emergence of improvisation as a form, its practices in different disciplines, and its stages. However, only a small portion of these studies touch upon the relationship between improvisation and traditional dance, particularly in the discipline of Turkish Folk Dances. These studies have remained superficial and have mostly considered improvisation as a basis for choreography.

The aim of this study is to explain the position of improvisation in the tradition of Turkish Folk Dances. By referencing the relevant literature, the discussions in this study aim to show that improvisation plays a fundamental role in the production of Turkish Folk Dances.