Suddenly I was pulled into the circle—kicks, stomps, wild moves everywhere. From gunshots in the air to wedding songs that pierced the sky, the Choopy was more than a dance. It was raw power, joy, and survival all in one. The Choopy Dance – Iran’s fiercest tradition.
High in Iran’s mountains, I joined the Qashqai nomads in the Choopy dance—a wild mix of rhythm and raw power. At first, the women danced with grace. Then the men charged in, swinging short and long sticks, striking with force. Sometimes it goes wrong - knees smashed, injuries, even fights between rival tribes. But with me, they were careful. Instead of rivalry, they showed respect - and pulled me into a tradition that felt more like battle than dance. I almost lost with the intense moves - also in the height. The Choopy is not just a dance. It’s fire, pride, and survival in motion.
Stein Morten Lund, July 2012
Religious prohibition to dancing waxed and waned over the years, but after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 dancing was no longer allowed due to its frequent mixing of the sexes. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 was the end of a successful era for dancing and the art of ballet in Iran.Although dancing has been considered as an inseparable element of Persian history and tradition, Islamic law has announced public dancing illegal in Iran. The nomadic stick dance performed by men in Iran is called Choob Bazi (or Chob Bazi, Chub-bazi, Çûb-Bâzî, meaning "stick play" or "wood sticks game".
This folk dance can be found all over Iran and is particularly associated with tribes like the Bakhtiari and Qashqai. The dance is characterized by two men using sticks in a competitive, stylized combat, defending and attacking each other while listening to music and receiving encouragement from the crowd. Key aspects of Choob Bazi: Choob Bazi, meaning "stick play" or "wood sticks game". Performed by men, typically two opponents at a time. A stylized form of combat where dancers attack and defend with wooden sticks. Purpose:The dance expresses happiness and can also display the power and martial skill of the men.
Cultural Context:Common among nomadic tribes, especially the Bakhtiari and Qashqai tribes in Southwest Iran. Music: Often accompanied by epic Lori songs or traditional instruments like the karnâ and naqqâra. Choub bazi, choob or choobazi (Persian: چوب بازی chub bāzi; Khorasani and Sistani: چو بازی chu bāzi; lit. "wood play") is one of Iranian games and traditions with an ancient history that goes back to ancient Iran. This traditional ritual is also mentioned in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. In Iran, there are two authentic types of stick games. One is the Sistani stick game, which is popular in the eastern half of Iran.[1] The other is the Lori, which is more popular in the southern and western parts of the country.
Choob Bazi combines elements of dance, martial arts, and game-playing, used to raise a warrior's spirit and demonstrate strength and skill. Choob Bazi ("stick playing") is an ancient Iranian ritualistic dance and martial game performed by nomadic tribes, particularly in the southern Khorasan region, and is a traditional part of their ceremonies and weddings. The dance features men holding two short pieces of wood, which they strike together in rhythm with traditional music like the saz-o-dohol, creating a stirring performance that is often accompanied by a sudden jump and complete whirling.
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