Yarkhushta

Yarkhushta (Armenian: Եարխուշտա, pronounced [jɑɾχuʃtɑ]) is an Armenian folk and martial dance associated with the highlands of the historical region of Sassoun in Western Armenia. Yarkhushta belongs to a wider category of Armenian "clap dances" (ծափ-պարեր, tsap parer). The dance is performed by men, who face each other in pairs. The key element of the dance is a forward movement when participants rapidly approach one another and vigorously clap onto the palms of hands of dancers in the opposite row.