Abstract
<jats:p>Gyovnd is one of the most widespread dance forms in Armenian dance culture, and it continues to be actively practiced today. This dance type, however, is also found under different names in Kurdish and Turkish dance traditions, serving as a national dance for these peoples. The aim of this study is to identify the presence and perceptions of gyovnd–yalli–halay dance forms in Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish cultures, as well as to reveal their structural parallels and distinctive features. Methods and Materials. The research was conducted using a combination of historical-comparative methods, dictionary studies, and content analysis of video recordings. The performative features of the Kurdish and Turkish variants were examined based on textual sources and visual materials (collected from YouTube). Analysis. A comparative study of gyovnd–yalli– halay dance forms shows that, although they developed in different cultural contexts and bear local characteristics, they share the same underlying structural principles and meaning—circle, arch, and round. Results. Gyovnd, yalli, and halay are synonymous terms, equivalent to the word “dance”, and in all three cultures, they represent communal dances performed in a circle, composed of steps ranging from simple to complex and progressing from slow to fast tempo.</jats:p>