Shirak Province and particularly Gyumri have rich traditions of dance. The school of dance in Gyumri was especially at its peak in the Soviet era. One could see the difference in the performances of Armenian national dances in Shirak Province right from the first seconds-the sketches in the motley of the culture in the city were for dancing.

Armenian dancers also faced the difficulties that were facing Armenian culture during the first years of Armenia’s independence. Most of the dance groups of Gyumri that have been around to this day and are successful dance groups are carrying out their activities under unfavorable conditions, to say the least. The citizens of Gyumri joke and say that if the boys can stand up straight while getting on top of the other boys while performing the Armenian “Berd” dance, then the dance hall is not too bad. However, the conditions have never broken the spirit of dancing. For decades, dance groups and ensembles of Gyumri and Shirak Province in general have been continuing to exist, and it is not the first time that they have proved that they are of high quality at state and international competitions. One of those competitions for dance groups and ensembles was the “Sketches of Shirak” Dance Festival, which was launched by the Public Television of Shirak a month ago. So, the dance festival will be held in Shirak Province throughout the month of May.

The “Sketches of Shirak” Dance Festival TV program is aimed at identifying the best dance groups and ensembles of the province and promoting the development and propagation of Armenian dance through the use of the opportunities that television has to offer.

According to the format of the program, the television station has selected well-known and successful dance instructors of the province as experts, who will select the top three groups and ensembles of Shirak Province following the first stage of the festival scheduled to end with a concert on May 14. The name of the winning dance group will be announced during a live talk show. The best groups and ensembles will congratulate each other and perform more dances during the gala concert to be held on May 29.

“Besides identifying the best groups and ensembles and providing a platform for beginners to present themselves, we believe the competition is very important for the advancement of the participating groups and ensembles. In addition, the festival consolidates everyone around one idea, and that idea is the development of Armenian dance since the groups will be participating in the “Sketches of Shirak” Dance Festival by performing only Armenian folk and ethnographic dances,” the program’s directors say and assure that the festival may also open new perspectives for cooperation between the dance groups and ensembles of the province. The directors added that the program could be ongoing.

Lilit Tovmasyan

Hayern Aysor