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ARMENIAFEST AT ST. APKAR ARMENIAN CHURCH
Az Central, Arizona
Oct 3 2014
10/4-5:
Laura Latzko, Special for The Republic
With such gestures as making sure guests never leave their homes
hungry or without extra food, the Armenian people express their warm
and friendly nature.
Through food, music and dance influenced by longstanding family and
cultural traditions, Armenians in the Valley plan to showcase the
Armenian character and heritage during ArmeniaFEST on Saturday and
Sunday, Oct. 4-5.
The event, which started out as a bazaar, has changed over the years
with the addition of music and dance performances, local vendors and
an Armenian market. Food continues to be at the center of the event.
The event is one of the main fundraisers for the St. Apkar Armenian
Apostolic Church of Arizona, a focal point for the Armenian community.
Members from two church groups -- Hye-Ways and the Ladies' Society --
spent weeks preparing food.
Victoria Manoogian, director of public relations and communications
for the church and a member of Hye-Ways, said the event provides a
unique opportunity to try Armenian foods, including grilled kebab,
baklava, stuffed grape leaves known as sarma, dough filled with spinach
and cheese known as boereg, a sweet butter cookie called ghourabia,
and a dessert prepared with cream cheese and sweet syrup called kunafa.
Before the festival, Manoogian prepared a type of Easter bread known
as choereg using a recipe passed down from her grandmother. She
said the foods and desserts at the event are prepared according to
traditional recipes.
"The food is authentic. It is prepared the way Armenians have for
centuries," Manoogian said. "When people come, they will frequently
say, 'My grandmother used to make this.' It connects them with their
past and revives something in them to want to perpetuate it."
Festival Chairman Hagop Naldjian said the festival gives people outside
of the community a hands-on education about the Armenian culture.
"That's the main goal, to share in the culture, the heritage,
the flavors of our food, the sounds and the tastes of Armenia,"
Naldjian said.
The festival continues to grow and expand with the inclusion of new
entertainers, including a group of young dancers from the church and
dancers from a local Serbian church.
The Erebuni Dance Group, an ensemble from California, returns with
12 to 16 dancers who will perform traditional Armenian dances during
the festival. On Sunday, the dance group plans to engage audience
members between sets, dancing with them and teaching them steps to
folk circle dances.
In Armenian dance styles, females and males often perform different
types of dances.
"We have men's dances that are very tribal in nature, where they'll
be hitting an Armenian drum. These dances that they do are very
masculine, and we have very feminine dances that only the girls do,"
Manoogian said.
Naldjian said that Armenians share many music and dance traditions
with Syrians and Lebanese people.
An art exhibit at the festival will showcase the paintings and
sculptures of local Armenian artists.
ArmeniaFEST: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday,
Oct. 5. St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona, 8849 E. Cholla
St., Scottsdale.
http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/10/02/armeniafest-st-apkar-armenian-apostolic-church/16591675/
Az Central, Arizona
Oct 3 2014
10/4-5:
Laura Latzko, Special for The Republic
With such gestures as making sure guests never leave their homes
hungry or without extra food, the Armenian people express their warm
and friendly nature.
Through food, music and dance influenced by longstanding family and
cultural traditions, Armenians in the Valley plan to showcase the
Armenian character and heritage during ArmeniaFEST on Saturday and
Sunday, Oct. 4-5.
The event, which started out as a bazaar, has changed over the years
with the addition of music and dance performances, local vendors and
an Armenian market. Food continues to be at the center of the event.
The event is one of the main fundraisers for the St. Apkar Armenian
Apostolic Church of Arizona, a focal point for the Armenian community.
Members from two church groups -- Hye-Ways and the Ladies' Society --
spent weeks preparing food.
Victoria Manoogian, director of public relations and communications
for the church and a member of Hye-Ways, said the event provides a
unique opportunity to try Armenian foods, including grilled kebab,
baklava, stuffed grape leaves known as sarma, dough filled with spinach
and cheese known as boereg, a sweet butter cookie called ghourabia,
and a dessert prepared with cream cheese and sweet syrup called kunafa.
Before the festival, Manoogian prepared a type of Easter bread known
as choereg using a recipe passed down from her grandmother. She
said the foods and desserts at the event are prepared according to
traditional recipes.
"The food is authentic. It is prepared the way Armenians have for
centuries," Manoogian said. "When people come, they will frequently
say, 'My grandmother used to make this.' It connects them with their
past and revives something in them to want to perpetuate it."
Festival Chairman Hagop Naldjian said the festival gives people outside
of the community a hands-on education about the Armenian culture.
"That's the main goal, to share in the culture, the heritage,
the flavors of our food, the sounds and the tastes of Armenia,"
Naldjian said.
The festival continues to grow and expand with the inclusion of new
entertainers, including a group of young dancers from the church and
dancers from a local Serbian church.
The Erebuni Dance Group, an ensemble from California, returns with
12 to 16 dancers who will perform traditional Armenian dances during
the festival. On Sunday, the dance group plans to engage audience
members between sets, dancing with them and teaching them steps to
folk circle dances.
In Armenian dance styles, females and males often perform different
types of dances.
"We have men's dances that are very tribal in nature, where they'll
be hitting an Armenian drum. These dances that they do are very
masculine, and we have very feminine dances that only the girls do,"
Manoogian said.
Naldjian said that Armenians share many music and dance traditions
with Syrians and Lebanese people.
An art exhibit at the festival will showcase the paintings and
sculptures of local Armenian artists.
ArmeniaFEST: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday,
Oct. 5. St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona, 8849 E. Cholla
St., Scottsdale.
http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/10/02/armeniafest-st-apkar-armenian-apostolic-church/16591675/