Taxus Baccata

Kochari (Azerbaijani: Köçəri;Armenian: Քոչարի; Greek: Κότσαρι), is a folk dance from the Armenia. In many Turkic languages, Kochari means "nomad" (Köçəri (Azeri), Gochar, Goçede).

The word is also Kurdish for nomad (kocher). Kocher-i is plural meaning "nomad-ian" (nomadian dance)^{[citation needed]}.

Kochari is closely related to the "Haleh" or "Yalli"^[1], a dance common to Azerbaijanians^[1], Assyrians, and Kurds. Although there are differences the most basic form of the Armenian Halay is the same as Kochari^{[citation needed]}.

"Govand" is also part of this family of dances.

It is one of the widely spread yalli(halay) in Azerbaijan, especially in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. As it is seen from its name, the creaters of this dancing are nomadic tribes^{[citation needed]}. In the same time, this dancing is included to the lovely dancings of the Azerbaijani people. The “Kochari” dancing, consisting of slow and rapid parts, is of three variants. In the men or women lining up one after another or one woman after one man position, a yallihead (holder) holds a stick in his / her hand. This stick isn’t to punish the dancers but factually it has a dancing importance.

Today this dancing is played in the ancient Nakhchivan land of which Sharur, Sadarak, Kangarli, Julfa and Shahbuz regions’ folklore collectives and it gives a stimule to the weddings.

The Pontic Greeks^[2] and Armenians have many vigorous warlike dances such as the Kochari.

Unlike most Pontic dances, the Kotsari is in an even rhythm (2/4), originally danced in a closed circle. The dance is very popular today; however, it is often danced differently from the original. There is a consistent, vicious double bounce, also referred to as tremoulo. It is danced hand to shoulder and travels to the right. There are few variations which may be added to the step. It's a dance that tries to fear the viewers. At the start, it is danced by both men and women. Then, men go in front and do their figures.

• Kochari music - Pontic sample´ Armenian sample, Assyrian sample, Turkish sample
• Kochari dance - Pontic variant, Armenian variant, Azeri variant