Tovlama (also spelled Towlama, Tolama, or Toulama) is an Azerbaijani and Assyrian folk dance originating from West Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran. It is specifically attributed to the Karapapakhs of Sulduz and Urmia among the Azerbaijanis and is categorized as a yallı in Azerbaijani folklore due to its circle dance nature. There are several versions of the Assyrian Toulama, including the regular Toulama and the Two Legged Toulama.
Etymology
Tovlama derives from the Azerbaijani verb tovlamaq, which means "to move" or "to wiggle."
Choreography
In the regular Assyrian Toulama, dancers initially hold hands in a "W" position, face the center of the group, slightly turned to the right, with weight on the left, and cross their right feet over the left. They then leap to the right and hop on the right, followed by leaping to the left and hopping on the left. Dancers sway their left legs back and forth in each step as they leap to and hop on the right three times each. They then leap and hop on the left while swaying the left leg, hop on the left again while crossing the right foot over the left, and finally hop on the left.
In the Assyrian Two Legged Toulama, dancers hold hands in a "W" position, face the center, slightly turned to the right with weight on the left. The dance begins with a side step with the right leg, crossing with the left, jumping on both feet while keeping weight on the right. After a pause, dancers hop to the right while swaying their left legs to the front, back, and front. They leap on the left and bring the right foot back, hop on the left and kick the right foot forward, and hop on the left while crossing the right foot over the left foot.
Music
In the regular Assyrian Toulama, the meter is 2/4, the period is 7, and the tempo ranges from 120 to 150 beats per minute. In the Two Legged Toulama, the meter is 6/8, the period is 5, and the tempo ranges from 120 to 130 beats per minute.
