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‘Rebirth and Triumph’: Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble’s Remarkable Performances in Armenia, US

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Old 25 Oct 15, 16:12   #1 (permalink)
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Post ‘Rebirth and Triumph’: Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble’s Remarkable Performances in Armenia, US

By Hagop Vartivarian

This year, our community and most all of its organizations commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in their own unique way. Among them was New Jersey’s Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the Armenian American Support and Education Center (AASEC). In August, Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble traveled to Armenia and Karabagh (Artsakh), and performed in Gyumri, Stepanakert, and Yerevan, dedicating their performances to the Centennial. Following the success of their trip, the members treated the New Jersey community to a full two-hour program in October dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with guest performers Kevork Artinian, Ara Dinkjian, and Vicken Makoushian. The dance group is made up of 70 dancers, boys and girls, young ladies and gentlemen, performing gracefully together to present an array of traditional, popular, and new dances.

The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble

The ensemble’s director and choreographer, Sylva Asadourian, was a dancer herself and has successfully passed on the love of Armenian dance to her 70-plus dancers. Her hard work and dedication was rewarded by the almost to capacity crowd at Felician College, which holds more than 1,000 spectators, on Sun., Oct. 4, despite our community being overscheduled this month.

The program, entitled “Rebirth and Triumph,” presented a nationalistic picture, mirroring the community’s feelings and emotions. It was with pride that we watched this young generation, of mostly Istanbul-Armenian parents, present a love of their culture and heritage through Armenian dance and song. It was beautiful to see that our culture and traditions are being preserved so strongly at a time when assimilation has become the norm.

The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble

The program included traditional favorites such as “Moush,” “Akh’tamar,” “Housher,” and some more popular ones such as “Menk Enk Mer Sarere” and “Hayastani Yerke.” These gracefully choreographed dances and songs all played beautifully to our emotions. And, in the second half, our “Triumph” was evident with dances like “Zartir Lao” and “Celebration.”

The program also included three non-Armenian folk dances, all from regions and cultures that are close to ours: Russian, Georgian, and Greek. These three dances added to the versatility and agility of the group.

Performing with the ensemble was singer Kevork Artinian, with Ara Dinkjian on oud and Vicken Makoushian on keyboards. They presented an array of nationalistic, traditional, and popular songs to the delight of the audience. The selection of songs stirred feelings of nostalgia among the audience, with favorites like “Yerevan Erepouni,” “Kele Lao,” “Azk Parabants” and “Hzor Hayastan.” These classics have become part of our national repertoire and are known by all. This was evident when the audience started to sing with Artinian and dance in the aisles, creating a very festive and joyous atmosphere.

The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble

Congratulations to the entire Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble committee, under the leadership of Zivart Gulian and with the participation of Nivart Arslan, Talin Cinar, Rita Ghichlian, Maral Kilerciyan Kalishian, Jenny Korogluyan, Talin Purut, and Talar Sesetyan Sarafian.

It is also noteworthy that the program remembered and honored the memory of Sylva Asadourian’s mom, Marie Kantardjian, who passed away recently. Marie Kantardjian had a tremendous effect on the group. Her countless hours of dedication to the ensemble and especially to the creation of the costumes over the years was remembered and honored in the booklet.

The audience left Felician College with a renewed sense of Armenian nationalism and pride. Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble will certainly continue its mission of preserving and teaching the love of Armenian culture and heritage among our youth.


By Hagop Vartivarian This year, our community and most all of its organizations commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in their own unique way. Among them was New Jersey’s Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the Armenian American Support and Education Center (AASEC). In August, Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble traveled to Armenia and Karabagh (Artsakh), and performed in Gyumri, Stepanakert, and Yerevan, dedicating their performances to the Centennial. Following the success of their trip, the members treated the New Jersey community to a full two-hour program in October dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with guest performers Kevork Artinian, Ara Dinkjian, and Vicken Makoushian. The dance group is made up of 70 dancers, boys and girls, young ladies and gentlemen, performing gracefully together to present an array of traditional, popular, and new dances. The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble The ensemble’s director and choreographer, Sylva Asadourian, was a dancer herself and has successfully passed on the love of Armenian dance to her 70-plus dancers. Her hard work and dedication was rewarded by the almost to capacity crowd at Felician College, which holds more than 1,000 spectators, on Sun., Oct. 4, despite our community being overscheduled this month. The program, entitled [...]
By Hagop Vartivarian This year, our community and most all of its organizations commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in their own unique way. Among them was New Jersey’s Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the Armenian American Support and Education Center (AASEC). In August, Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble traveled to Armenia and Karabagh (Artsakh), and performed in Gyumri, Stepanakert, and Yerevan, dedicating their performances to the Centennial. Following the success of their trip, the members treated the New Jersey community to a full two-hour program in October dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with guest performers Kevork Artinian, Ara Dinkjian, and Vicken Makoushian. The dance group is made up of 70 dancers, boys and girls, young ladies and gentlemen, performing gracefully together to present an array of traditional, popular, and new dances. The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble The ensemble’s director and choreographer, Sylva Asadourian, was a dancer herself and has successfully passed on the love of Armenian dance to her 70-plus dancers. Her hard work and dedication was rewarded by the almost to capacity crowd at Felician College, which holds more than 1,000 spectators, on Sun., Oct. 4, despite our community being overscheduled this month. The program, entitled [...]
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