I established the Zartonk Armenian Dance Group of Almelo in February 2011 with the support of chairman of the local Armenian Apostolic Church Onik Gelichi.

The members of the dance group attend lessons every Sunday at the hall next to the church.

There are many hardships. For instance, it’s not every Sunday that the hall is available, and it’s not every Sunday that the members can all gather together. Of course, that is an obstacle for teaching and perfecting new dances. There are few male dancers. We would love to see Armenian boys join the group. We have problems with costumes and have especially addressed many organizations in Armenia with the request for national costumes. However, those efforts are in vain because the organizations give various reasons and aren’t solving the problem.

We have solved the problem with costumes with the help of the members of the dance group.

Despite this and many other hardships, the Zartonk Armenian Dance Group is a success. We have performed at various events, the concerts of various singers from Armenia, the ceremonies organized by the Armenian Apostolic Church and the ceremonies commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The list of dances includes the Armenian national “Msho Kochari”, “Lorke”, “Etchmiadzin”, “Uzundara”, “Karabaghi Yeghnik”, “Shatakhi Razmapar”, “Tsitsernakaberd”, “Ter Voghormya”, “Krunk” and other dances.

Armenian dances are diverse in their nature. All the dances are a reflection of the life and lifestyles of the Armenians (music, movements and mimics). It is with these ways of expression and the unique style that Zartonk Armenian Dance Group tries to be presentable to Armenians abroad.

Zartonk Armenian Dance Group “speaks” in the language of dance.

Lilit Yeghiazaryan

Director of Zartonk Armenian Dance Group