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Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston brings Armenian history and culture
to life in South Florida
10:12, 29 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
What does it mean to be an Armenian? What have the Armenian people
been through in 3,000 years? How have we flourished as a people and as
a nation? These are some of the questions that Sayat Nova Dance
Company of Boston's (SNDC) production A Journey Through Time answered
during their powerful performance on Saturday, January 24 at Florida
Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, the website of Florida Armenians
reports.
The event was held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
1915 Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were brutally
tortured and killed by Turkish nationalists. The show took the
audience on a magical and heartfelt journey through Armenian history,
in which the adoption of Christianity, the genocide, and the creation
of a free and independent Armenia were portrayed.
The program was organized into two parts. Part one, consisted of a
travel through time, in which the audience met famed Armenian hero's
Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Khor Virab and Vartan Mamigonian in
the Battle of Avarayr, among many others. Yet, the most agonizing
encounter was with the twenty brides of Adana in 1909, where the
audience saw the gruesome execution of twenty, innocent, young women.
Part two, on the other hand, celebrated the many cultural and melodic
dances of the Armenian culture, including crowd favorites, Kochari*
and Nare Nare.* This part of the production showed that, even amid
tragedy, Armenians have always managed to stay connected to their
roots and the essence of being Armenian; in addition to finding both
peace and courage through the art of music and dancing.
This event would not have been possible without the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration, Inc. (AGC) and their efforts to raise awareness of the
Armenian Genocide in Florida. Their mission is to educate Armenian and
non-Armenians in the local community on a very dark time in world
history. "I felt proud, relieved, wired," stated Arsine Kaloustian,
the Public Affairs Director of Florida Armenians and Chairman of AGC.
"A lot of people and a lot of work went into bringing Sayat Nova to
Florida. There were a lot of moving parts to this and to watch it come
together so seamlessly was energizing. To know that it was the first
official event in the USA that was commemorating the centennial was
very emotional for me," Kaloustian said.
With over 700 tickets sold, Sayat Nova's A Journey Through Time was a
great success for the Armenian community of Florida, and encouraged
all of us to help raise awareness and seek justice towards the
atrocities that occurred in 1915. As the Armenian proverb states, "If
the village stands, it can break a trunk (strength increases unity)."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/29/sayat-nova-dance-company-of-boston-brings-armenian-history-and-culture-to-life-in-south-florida/
to life in South Florida
10:12, 29 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
What does it mean to be an Armenian? What have the Armenian people
been through in 3,000 years? How have we flourished as a people and as
a nation? These are some of the questions that Sayat Nova Dance
Company of Boston's (SNDC) production A Journey Through Time answered
during their powerful performance on Saturday, January 24 at Florida
Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, the website of Florida Armenians
reports.
The event was held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
1915 Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were brutally
tortured and killed by Turkish nationalists. The show took the
audience on a magical and heartfelt journey through Armenian history,
in which the adoption of Christianity, the genocide, and the creation
of a free and independent Armenia were portrayed.
The program was organized into two parts. Part one, consisted of a
travel through time, in which the audience met famed Armenian hero's
Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Khor Virab and Vartan Mamigonian in
the Battle of Avarayr, among many others. Yet, the most agonizing
encounter was with the twenty brides of Adana in 1909, where the
audience saw the gruesome execution of twenty, innocent, young women.
Part two, on the other hand, celebrated the many cultural and melodic
dances of the Armenian culture, including crowd favorites, Kochari*
and Nare Nare.* This part of the production showed that, even amid
tragedy, Armenians have always managed to stay connected to their
roots and the essence of being Armenian; in addition to finding both
peace and courage through the art of music and dancing.
This event would not have been possible without the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration, Inc. (AGC) and their efforts to raise awareness of the
Armenian Genocide in Florida. Their mission is to educate Armenian and
non-Armenians in the local community on a very dark time in world
history. "I felt proud, relieved, wired," stated Arsine Kaloustian,
the Public Affairs Director of Florida Armenians and Chairman of AGC.
"A lot of people and a lot of work went into bringing Sayat Nova to
Florida. There were a lot of moving parts to this and to watch it come
together so seamlessly was energizing. To know that it was the first
official event in the USA that was commemorating the centennial was
very emotional for me," Kaloustian said.
With over 700 tickets sold, Sayat Nova's A Journey Through Time was a
great success for the Armenian community of Florida, and encouraged
all of us to help raise awareness and seek justice towards the
atrocities that occurred in 1915. As the Armenian proverb states, "If
the village stands, it can break a trunk (strength increases unity)."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/29/sayat-nova-dance-company-of-boston-brings-armenian-history-and-culture-to-life-in-south-florida/