Since 2012, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia has been carrying out the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival under the high patronage of RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

On July 1, RA First Lady Rita Sargsyan, Chairman of the RA National Assembly Galust Sahakyan, RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and other state officials, as well as public figures, artists and intellectuals attended the solemn opening ceremony of the 2^nd “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival held at Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

The opening ceremony included the entrance of delegations, a concert and a round-dance performed by all the participants.

The concert began with a performance of the Armenian national anthem by Anna Mayilyan.

In his welcoming remarks, RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan particularly mentioned: “On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I cordially welcome all the participants. Welcome to Armenia! Culture is the best way of familiarizing the nation. Here we see the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora triumvirate, which is the real guarantee for our strength. By gathering in the homeland and putting in your efforts for the development of Armenian culture, you make your contribution to the implementation of events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This is a pro-Armenian event. I thank all the participants and wish them success.”

Afterwards, hosts Avet Barseghyan and Syrian-Armenian student Lucy-Vana Garabedian called the 36 dance ensembles (from 12 countries) in Armenia to participate in the Days of Armenian Dance Program, including the Shirak, Tashir, Krunk, Hayasa, Armavir, Narek, Arin Berd, Taron, Nare, Areni, Karot, Arpi, Hayastani Payler, Artuyt, Nairi, Ani, Terpsikhora and Noyan Dance Ensembles (Russian Federation), the Ani, Fantazia, Vank, Jeyran, Vachyan, Baralet and Nairi Dance Ensembles (Georgia), the Arax and Armenia Dance Ensembles (Ukraine), the Arin Dance Ensemble (Lebanon), the Shakeh Dance Ensemble (Kuwait), the Nairi Dance Ensemble (Australia), the Ani Dance Ensemble (Canada), the Ara Dance Ensemble (France), Zvartnots Dance Ensemble (USA), as well as the dance ensembles from Armenia and Artsakh.

After the screening of a video about the first “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival held in 2012, the State Dance Ensemble of Artsakh performed a dance entitled “I Remember and Demand” and dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The concert included musical performances by Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia Shushan Petrosyan, the group of troubadours representing the Sayat-Nova Cultural Union led by People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia Tovmas Poghosyan, Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, dudukist Gevorg Dabaghyan and his students, Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia Leyla Saribekyan, singers Hamlet Gevorgyan and Arminka, as well as a dance performed by the “Berd” Honored Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Armenia.

A dance suite dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was performed for the first time during the opening ceremony, after which the participants performed their numbers and danced the traditional Armenian kochari dance together.

Sites worth seeing in Armenia and scenes from the first “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival were shown on the big screen throughout the event.

In the end, the members of the dance ensembles from Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, as well as their dance instructors performed the Armenian kochari dance after having swept the audience at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

The “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival is sponsored by Orange Armenia (general sponsor) and Tashir Group. The information sponsors are Armenian Public Television, Shant TV, Yerkir Media TV and the Public Radio of Armenia.