SAYAT NOVA DANCE ENSEMBLE PROVES IT IS A PREMIER GROUP
Lodi, NJ - As the dance program of Sayat Nova Dance Ensemble of Boston, MA got underway Saturday, April 17, 2004 at Breslin Auditorium of Felician College here, an announcer described the group as one of the premiere dance groups in the United States. The subsequent program came to prove that, indeed, the Sayat Nova Dance Ensemble is a premier group on the East Coast, where there are a number of such dance ensembles.
The program also proved that the multitude of men and women dancers are highly trained who know how to dance as a team and thus provide superior entertainment to large audiences. Apo Ashjian serves as artistic director of Sayat Nova, with brother Hagop serving as his assistant. Both brothers were also among the dancers.
The New York-area performance of the troupe was sponsored by the Tibrevank Alumni Youth Group and the Tibrevank Alumni, Inc. Since the sponsoring organization is composed of members who hail from various parts of Turkish interior, they remembered how, in 1968, they organized for the first time a hundred-plus-member song and dance ensemble presenting a program of dances and songs originating from the cities and towns most of the members hailed from. With this performance, Tibrevank Alumni is clearly continuing a tradition begun some 40 years earlier in Istanbul. The performance revived the historic cultural traditions of the music and dances of the Armenian people.
Following a few words of welcome by Mr. Manug Aydin, the program got underway with a video presentation and a Welcoming Dance, aimed at introducing the Sayat Nova dancers.
Then followed a dance, which was billed as "Our Playful Dances," in which a group of young men challenge others to join in a friendly competition as they try to outdo one another with acrobatic skills.
"Kamancha," a dance presented next, paid tribute to the namesake of the dance company, Sayat Nova, the famous 18th century troubadour and composer.
"Haninna" was a joyous country dance interpreted by young village men and women. "Ani" was described as a dance depicting the glory as well as the misfortunes that befell "the city of a thousand and one churches." The final piece before intermission was a series of regional dances.
The second part of the program contained another set of popular pieces, such as "Arev Yelav Zeytountziner" and "Melancholy Girl."
The audience displayed an enthusiastic response to the dance "Heroes of Artsakh" and "The Lament of Karabakh," which gave tribute to the heroes who courageously waged the liberation of struggle.
The program came to a close with the presentation of more dances: "Sareri Hovin Mernem" and the "Lernabar." The charged audience could hardly leave the concert hall, as they kept cheering the performers.
The Sayat Nova Dance Group's performance in metropolitan New York-New Jersey was not its first. The group has performed here a number of times, always highly appreciated for its performances. Apo Ashjian deserves much credit for turning amateurs into professionals and presenting highly qualified programs.
As an organization, Sayat Nova does not enjoy financial or moral support from any established Armenian organization. Yet it has successfully achieved its mission and maintained its continued existence.