Afghan women's dance and traditions appear to have evolved in two broadly distinct gendered contexts: female venues, where no men (apart from ritual personalities such as the bridegroom) would normally be present, and professional arenas, where men would be entertained as patrons.

Dance and music traditions have been severely disrupted since the pro-Soviet coup d'état of 1978, and at this point we do not know the exact damage to female performance traditions. Women certainly fel…