ADanceIndependent states
Sword and shield dance (Kılıç kalkan)
Bursa's war dance performed without music, to the sound of swords and shields alone.
The kılıç kalkan dance belongs to Bursa and, by tradition, re-enacts the Ottoman capture of the city in 1326. Dancers appear in early Ottoman soldiers' dress, with swords and leather shields.
There are no instruments: the rhythm comes from swords striking shields and each other, as the movements act out battle, siege and victory in turn.
Kılıç kalkan troupes are still active in Bursa, and the dance is performed at city festivals and official ceremonies.
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Updated: October 2, 2026