Mustafa Ozden2020 Halayв©erzurum Halaylari May 2026

One by one, the men join hands, fingers interlocking, shoulders touching. They are a wall of strength. As the "Erzurum Halayları" pick up speed, the line moves as a single organism. They kick in unison, their boots rhythmically striking the earth, sending up puffs of dust that glow in the fading light.

The rhythm of the drum, steady as a heartbeat, echoes through the crisp air of , a city perched high on a plateau in eastern Turkey. Here, the music of Mustafa Özden isn't just sound; it’s a call to the "meydan" (the square). Mustafa Ozden2020 HalayВ©Erzurum Halaylari

As the sun sets behind the Palandöken mountains, the "halay" line stretches across the square, a living chain of tradition fueled by the relentless energy of music. For Dadaş and his friends, the dance is a promise that as long as the drum beats, the soul of Erzurum will never stop moving. Mustafa Özden - Halay | Erzurum Müzik © 2020 One by one, the men join hands, fingers