By Shushan Yegoyan
BOSTON, Mass.—Over the past 27 years, many young women and men have passed through the doors of the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston (SNDC). On any given Sunday, one can hear the music from the Abaka School for the Performing Arts, on the corner of Bigelow and Nichols Ave. in Watertown, as a vibrant group of dancers rehearse tirelessly. They stand tall and proud, representing the Armenian community of Watertown in many different venues, from the West Coast to Montreal, and as far away as Armenia and Artsakh. Locally they have performed on such prestigious stages as the Cutler Majestic Theatre in the Theater District of Boston and the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, and most recently took part in the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, located in the beautiful Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts.
Sayat Nova Dance Company
The opportunity to perform in the Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Dance Festival on July 4, as America celebrated its birthday, was one of the most significant events in SNDC history. An historic landmark and America’s longest running dance festival, Jacob’s Pillow has hosted more than 50 professional dance companies from around the world. It was recently awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama, the highest arts award given by the U.S. government.
SNDC performed there for 45 minutes, to an all-new, capacity audience. They were intrigued, and based on the questions asked during a question-and-answer period that followed, it was clear the audience was mesmerized by the graceful movements, difficult steps, beautiful costumes and, most importantly, Armenian history. As one audience member said, “I am fascinated by what I saw and heard today. I will now go and research your history.”
Director/choreographer Apo Ashjian instills hard work and dedication that instills in his all-volunteer dancers. At SNDC, members perform alongside life-long friends, siblings, cousins, spouses, classmates, and even with their own children. This is what sets Sayat Nova Dance Company apart from most other dance groups; the intimate relationships between members allow this group to function as a large family, depending on one another, surpassing all expectations with each and every show.
For most members, dedication lies in SNDC’s mission to preserve and promote Armenian culture through the art of dance. Certain dances depict historical battles, while others portray festive and traditional dances celebrating the spirit, love, and allegiance of Armenians to their homeland. Dances such as “Zankezour” or “Jahel Sirds” characterize the beauty of Armenian women through graceful dancing, while the strength of Armenian men comes through in dances such as “Kochari,” an old folk dance that has been performed in the Armenian highlands for over a thousand years.
Alina A., a long-time SNDC member, says, “Sayat Nova Dance Company’s success, as an Armenian folk dance group, lies not only in our dancers, but also in our supportive community. The many opportunities that have been given to us are a result of the alumni members, current and future members, and those in our community who are always dedicated to supporting youth and culture. We hope to surpass your expectations with many future performances.”
The Boston community has another opportunity to see SNDC perform, at Boston’s first annual Outside the Box arts festival. This free, one-hour performance, will take place on July 19, at 7 p.m. at Boston Common’s Park Street Stage, located near the Park Street T stop. The 9-day festival started July 13, and promises transform the Boston Common and City Hall Plaza into performance spaces with more than 200 events showcasing the best of Boston.
For more information, visit www.outsidetheboxboston.org or www.sayatnova.com. To learn more about joining SNDC, visit www.sayatnova.com.