Come explore Turkish Roman dance (Roman havası), a social, improvisational dance tradition rooted in the everyday gestures and life of Turkish Roman communities. Its movement traces back to the köçek and çengi dancers of the Ottoman era, and it’s driven by Roman oyun havası music and its signature aksak 9/8 rhythm.

In this introductory workshop, we’ll touch on the dance’s history and cultural context, then dive into its core elements: torso work (shoulder shimmies), footwork, the gobek atma (the belly-forward pelvic movement central to the style), snaps, and the mimetic gestures that give the dance its storytelling quality. We’ll also spend time feeling the 9/8 rhythm itself, since it’s the foundation everything else is built on.

No prior dance experience is required. All levels are welcome!