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Dallas Morning News, TX
Oct 7 2006
Troupe retraces ancestors' footsteps
Carrollton: Dancers explore, help preserve Armenian history
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 7, 2006
By LYNDA STRINGER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
>>From a young age, Rachel Andonian wanted to study under well-known
Armenian choreographer and dance instructor Datevig Gharibian.
MONA REEDER/DMN
Groung, a traditional Armenian dance troupe, rehearsed Thursday at
Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Carrollton. The group will perform at
this year's Armenia Fest, which begins Friday in Carrollton. Mrs.
Gharibian, who teaches at the Institute of Dance in Yerevan, Armenia,
comes from a family of dance instructors and choreographers.
At age 9, Ms. Andonian got her chance to learn the traditional folk
dances of her father's homeland when Mrs. Gharibian accepted an
invitation to come to Dallas. Once here, she formed the amateur dance
troupe Groung.
"I wanted to be closer to my roots, to get closer to the people in
our [Armenian] community," Ms. Andonian said of her interest in
dance. "There's a lot of hand movement and footwork in the
traditional dances. It's very graceful."
The dance troupe first performed in 1993 at Dallas' Festival of
Nations. Members of Carrollton's St. Sarkis Armenian Church invited
Mrs. Gharibian back each year, and in 1995, the church began hosting
its own festival to highlight Groung's repertoire of dances.
This year's three-day Armenia Fest, which features traditional
Armenian dance, food and entertainment, begins Friday in Carrollton.
With Mrs. Gharibian's absence from the festival this year, Ms.
Andonian and fellow church member Diana Avidisian are taking the lead
as dance instructors for Groung. Ms. Andonian, 22, is teaching the
young people - including her 12-year-old brother, Raffi - the same
steps she learned 13 years ago. Some are energetic and fun, some
flirty and graceful. Mrs. Avidisian is teaching the adults.
The two Carrollton women are also the lead dancers in the
performances at the 11th annual festival.
"It's in my blood," Mrs. Avidisian said. "I get a good feeling
because that's me. I like to perform; I like my music and my
traditional dances."
Festival coordinator Paul Kirazian of Dallas says bringing Mrs.
Gharibian to Dallas most years and having the unique dance troupe she
created provide links to his community's heritage.
"We were getting a linkage to our history through her," Mr. Kirazian
said. "It also brings a new refreshed view and a sense of pride to
the [Armenian] community."
The family-oriented festival showcases that heritage and pride and
brings the traditions of Armenia to the larger community.
"It's like going into your attic and finding the things your
grandmother left you and showing them to your kids and your friends,"
he said.
As for taking charge in her teacher's absence, Mrs. Avidisian said,
"I've done two dances I choreographed myself. I owe it to her. We are
following her footsteps."
Lynda Stringer is a North Richland Hills-based freelance writer.
Oct 7 2006
Troupe retraces ancestors' footsteps
Carrollton: Dancers explore, help preserve Armenian history
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 7, 2006
By LYNDA STRINGER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
>>From a young age, Rachel Andonian wanted to study under well-known
Armenian choreographer and dance instructor Datevig Gharibian.
MONA REEDER/DMN
Groung, a traditional Armenian dance troupe, rehearsed Thursday at
Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Carrollton. The group will perform at
this year's Armenia Fest, which begins Friday in Carrollton. Mrs.
Gharibian, who teaches at the Institute of Dance in Yerevan, Armenia,
comes from a family of dance instructors and choreographers.
At age 9, Ms. Andonian got her chance to learn the traditional folk
dances of her father's homeland when Mrs. Gharibian accepted an
invitation to come to Dallas. Once here, she formed the amateur dance
troupe Groung.
"I wanted to be closer to my roots, to get closer to the people in
our [Armenian] community," Ms. Andonian said of her interest in
dance. "There's a lot of hand movement and footwork in the
traditional dances. It's very graceful."
The dance troupe first performed in 1993 at Dallas' Festival of
Nations. Members of Carrollton's St. Sarkis Armenian Church invited
Mrs. Gharibian back each year, and in 1995, the church began hosting
its own festival to highlight Groung's repertoire of dances.
This year's three-day Armenia Fest, which features traditional
Armenian dance, food and entertainment, begins Friday in Carrollton.
With Mrs. Gharibian's absence from the festival this year, Ms.
Andonian and fellow church member Diana Avidisian are taking the lead
as dance instructors for Groung. Ms. Andonian, 22, is teaching the
young people - including her 12-year-old brother, Raffi - the same
steps she learned 13 years ago. Some are energetic and fun, some
flirty and graceful. Mrs. Avidisian is teaching the adults.
The two Carrollton women are also the lead dancers in the
performances at the 11th annual festival.
"It's in my blood," Mrs. Avidisian said. "I get a good feeling
because that's me. I like to perform; I like my music and my
traditional dances."
Festival coordinator Paul Kirazian of Dallas says bringing Mrs.
Gharibian to Dallas most years and having the unique dance troupe she
created provide links to his community's heritage.
"We were getting a linkage to our history through her," Mr. Kirazian
said. "It also brings a new refreshed view and a sense of pride to
the [Armenian] community."
The family-oriented festival showcases that heritage and pride and
brings the traditions of Armenia to the larger community.
"It's like going into your attic and finding the things your
grandmother left you and showing them to your kids and your friends,"
he said.
As for taking charge in her teacher's absence, Mrs. Avidisian said,
"I've done two dances I choreographed myself. I owe it to her. We are
following her footsteps."
Lynda Stringer is a North Richland Hills-based freelance writer.