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ARMENIAN DANCE TROUPE RAZ TO PERFORM SATURDAY
The Jordan Times, Jordan
October 13, 2011 Thursday
By Muath Freij AMMAN - The Armenian folk dance troupe RAZ will perform
at Al Hussein Cultural Centre in Ras Al Ain on Saturday, showcasing
their community's heritage and culture. Formed in 2007 by the Armenian
Relief Society, RAZ was born out of young Armenians' renewed interest
in this aspect of their heritage, the society's chairwoman, Diana
Kuyoumjian, explained. She indicated that the society, which was
established in 1946 and carries out different charitable projects to
support underprivileged families, decided to form the troupe as a way
to preserve Armenian culture for the community's younger generation.
"These young people are really dedicated and thrilled to learn their
art and music, so we decided to give them a chance to do so," she
told The Jordan Times in a recent interview. The band comprises 47
members aged between seven and 20 years who will perform 16 dances
illustrating the community's values, particularly traditional gender
roles, during Saturday's concert, their trainer Lia Doumanian said.
"For example the sardarabad dance represents the pride of victory
while yeghekner manifests the softness of the Armenian women and
their tenderness," she told The Jordan Times. The troupe members
will perform in traditional costumes and be accompanied by Armenian
instruments such as the duduk, a wind instrument made of apricot wood.
Seven-year-old Alex Yaghmourian, one of the troupe's members, said
he took pride and pleasure in learning his community's art. Hrag
Mouradian, an older member of the troupe, explained that his friends
from university like Armenian music and plan to attend Saturday's
performance. "Performing our art in front of the audience is a way
to present our culture and heritage to them. I can't wait to show
them real Armenian art," the 19-year-old university student said.
The Jordan Times, Jordan
October 13, 2011 Thursday
By Muath Freij AMMAN - The Armenian folk dance troupe RAZ will perform
at Al Hussein Cultural Centre in Ras Al Ain on Saturday, showcasing
their community's heritage and culture. Formed in 2007 by the Armenian
Relief Society, RAZ was born out of young Armenians' renewed interest
in this aspect of their heritage, the society's chairwoman, Diana
Kuyoumjian, explained. She indicated that the society, which was
established in 1946 and carries out different charitable projects to
support underprivileged families, decided to form the troupe as a way
to preserve Armenian culture for the community's younger generation.
"These young people are really dedicated and thrilled to learn their
art and music, so we decided to give them a chance to do so," she
told The Jordan Times in a recent interview. The band comprises 47
members aged between seven and 20 years who will perform 16 dances
illustrating the community's values, particularly traditional gender
roles, during Saturday's concert, their trainer Lia Doumanian said.
"For example the sardarabad dance represents the pride of victory
while yeghekner manifests the softness of the Armenian women and
their tenderness," she told The Jordan Times. The troupe members
will perform in traditional costumes and be accompanied by Armenian
instruments such as the duduk, a wind instrument made of apricot wood.
Seven-year-old Alex Yaghmourian, one of the troupe's members, said
he took pride and pleasure in learning his community's art. Hrag
Mouradian, an older member of the troupe, explained that his friends
from university like Armenian music and plan to attend Saturday's
performance. "Performing our art in front of the audience is a way
to present our culture and heritage to them. I can't wait to show
them real Armenian art," the 19-year-old university student said.