The history of the Kocheks

Throughout the Islamic world we find restrictions on women singing and dancing in public. However what we see behind closed doors is another thing entirely. However this can be 'milked' for all it's worth with the very high prices we have to pay to see some of these dancers. During the Ottoman Empire this problem was somewhat solved by dancers known as Kocheks who were men dressed as women, doing bellydancing. This meant whenever they had any kind of party that dancing was allowed within the strict rules of Islam. They would have performed at weddings, circumcisions, after battles. There were also Kocheks who danced as men, they were known as Rabbit Boys. They wore black baggy pants with silk shirts and would have had a sash round their middles. However even in these costumes their figures were most noticeable. Most of the Kocheks were attractive to other men, they were quite effeminate and sensuous.

Training as Kocheks would begin at a very early age, studying the music and dance of their country from older mentors, learning all the secrets. A Kocheks dancing life was not long, no more than 10 years performing and maybe if he was lucky 10 years teaching.

The Kocheks wore make up too and had the benefit of all the finery that money could buy as they were paid very well with pouches of Kurash. They danced with "calpara", Turkish castanets, which are simply 2 straight pieces of wood manipulated to make the rthymic clicking that would accompany the other instruments. The music was fast and known as "kochekche".Records show the Kocheks were around in the 15th century, alas you will not see them today. You may be lucky to see a folk display or even a male dancer on your visits to Turkey. Times have changed and again the dance is evolving, however there are many Islamic fundamentalists who are not happy with female bellydancers, maybe they will bring back the Kocheks one day, who knows.

Roz.