The researcher Hussain Bassiddiq has documented more than 60 types of Yemeni folk dances, which stem from three general dances, namely the zafin, sharh, and the bara, which are common throughout Yemen and may have different names from one region to another.
Yemeni dancing varies between mixed dances in which men and women participate, dances for men, and others for women only. Some are similar to each other in name, although they differ in details. Some are distinguished by their own rhythms, musical instruments and clothing that are characteristic of the place and culture to which they belong. Some of these dances are related to singing sessions, listening to folk poetry and other gatherings. Often the names of these dances, their movements and their rhythmic variations refer to their origins. Some of them are closely related to ancient social rituals and customs, and some commemorate the harvest seasons, hunting and war rituals. Some were influenced by neighboring or incoming cultures. The musician Jaber Ali Ahmed divides the dances in Yemen into three categories: indigenous, Yemeni-African and Yemeni-Asian.
The following is a partial list of some of the most prominent folk dances in select Yemeni governorates:
- Abyan: the Duhaif dance and the Razha dance.
- Al-Bayda: Al-Bayda dance.
- Al-Hodeidah: Al-Haqfa dance, Al-Jal dance, Al-Fursani dance and Atta dance.
- Al-Mahwit: Al-Kawkabani dance and Al-Mahweety Tasyif dance.
- Al-Mahra: Al-Bara' Al-Mahri dance, Al-Badina dance and Al-Ourri dance.
- Taiz: Al-Razeen and Al-Khafif dance, Al-Zubayriyah dance and Al-Bara` Al-Hujari dance.
- Hadhramaut: Al Zerabadi dance, Ghail Bani Yameen dance, Al-Habeish dance, Al-Qatni dance, Al-Adda dance and Bani Maghra dance.
- Socotra: Al-Zamel dance, Qalil Mizmar dance and Al-Saibeh dance.
- Saada: Al-Nassr dance and Sahar dance.
- Sana’a: Al-Bara’ Al-San’ani dance, Al-Mizmar dance and Al-Sho’ubiya dance.
- Aden: Liwa dance and Raklah dance.
- Lahj: Al-Sharh dance, Al-Marrakah dance, Al-Dahfa dance, Al-Dmandam, Al-Hana and Najim Al-Sabah dance, Al-Zafna dance, Al-Zaffin, Al-Maklawi dance and Mzaf Al-Jazbah.
- Marib: Marib Dance.
- Shabwa: Bir Ali dance and Nisab dance.
