The solemn closing ceremony of the Days of Armenian Dance Program of the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival was held at Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theater on July 10. The festival is organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The ceremony included performances by the participating dance ensembles and a song by Lebanese-Armenian opera singer Kevork Hadjian.

The 2^nd “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival was launched with the Days of Armenian Dance Program on July 1 and included performances by 35 Armenian dance ensembles from 12 countries in Yerevan, Artsakh, as well as Armenia’s Lori, Shirak, Aragatsotni, Armavir, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Kotayk and Ararat provinces. The dance ensembles performed folk and national dances in front of packed audiences in Armenia’s cities and Artsakh and received warm rounds of applause. During the concert tour, the members of the dance ensembles also visited the Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, Haritchavank Monastery, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Noravank Monastery, the St. Hovhannes Church, Khor Virap Monastery, the church in Shushi, as well as the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Spitak Earthquake.

RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan welcomed the dance ensembles’ participation in the pan-Armenian festival, praised their efforts to preserve the type, spirit and culture of the Armenians through the arts and mentioned: “Whereas the Mother Homeland used to make attempts to preserve the spirit and image of the Armenians in Armenian communities of the Diaspora through Armenian artists and art lovers, today, the tables have turned, and now, our devoted artists of the Armenian Diaspora are helping us preserve the image and identity of the Armenian nation, and they are succeeding.” The deputy minister expressed gratitude to the festival’s general sponsor-Orange Armenia, sponsor-Tashir Group, as well as Armenian Public Television, Shant TV, Yerkir Media TV and the Public Radio of Armenia for helping make the festival a success.

Afterwards, the deputy minister granted certificates of participation in the 2^nd “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival, as well as the DVDs “From Ararat to Europe” and “Varduhi Varderesian” to the directors of the dance ensembles.

The “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival will also include Days of Choral Arts, Days of Poetry, a Duduk Festival and an Armenian Song Day.