On July 7, with the support of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia and at the initiative of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, Yerevan’s Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theater hosted the concert of Nayiri Dance Ensemble of the New Jersey Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society held as part of the events dedicated to the 90^th anniversary of the dance ensemble and to the 50^th anniversary of Hamazkayin New Jersey Chapter.

In the beginning, Assistant to the Minister of Diaspora Vagharshak Hakobyan transmitted the welcoming remarks of Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan which particularly read as follows: “I welcome all of us on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the New Jersey Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. The pages of the history of Hamazkayin are truly sorted by layers throughout history, and they run parallel with the cultural life in our country Armenia. Hamazkayin makes its contributions to the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations, conveying new qualities and new nuances to the national and cultural policies under implementation. In an era of globalization, the nearly 40 hard-working members of this cultural organization preserve the traditions of their ancestors and don’t spare efforts to further deepen and instill within the souls of the new generation of Armenians the ��?Armenianness’ and the awareness of being dignified Armenians.”

The Minister of Diaspora also emphasized the fact that the New Jersey Chapter stays true to the mission statement of Hamazkayin and has always attached importance to teaching the native language and promoting revitalization of cultural life, considering these factors impregnable pillars on the road to providing Armenians with an Armenian upbringing.

Established in 2004, the Nayiri Dance Ensemble of the New Jersey Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society performed new dances. The dance ensemble’s artistic director is Garik Khachikyan, and the dance instructor is soloist of Sardarabad Dance Ensemble of the Aleppo Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Barkev Sanosian.

The concert also featured performances by Armenian folk singers Haik Yesayan and Eva Yeganyan.

Taking into consideration the tremendous role of the New Jersey Chapter in Eastern USA in the development of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership, the representatives of the Chapter received a certificate of the Ministry o Diaspora on the occasion of the Chapter’s 50^th anniversary.