The Aradzani Dance Group is a group of adult dancers who meet weekly to learn dances of pre-1915 Historic Armenia. The objective of the group is to preserve and perpetuate ethnographic songs and dances from this historic period in Armenian history. Aradzani has a repertoire of 120 dances most of which are endangered. In 2011 Aradzani produced a two part instructional dance DVD entitled “A Trip Through Historic Armenia Through Dance”. The DVD includes dances from the regions of Dikranagerd, Kharpert, Sepasdia and Gesaria of pre-1915 Historic Armenia. Currently Aradzani is producing a two part instructional dance DVD covering dances from the regions of Partsr Hayk (Erzerum), Gars, Vaspouragan and Daron of pre-1915 Historic Armenia. From 2004 to 2008 the Aradzani Dance Group organized annual cultural programs at which time songs and dances from a particular province of Historic Armenia were presented. In 2009 Aradzani organized a program entitled “The Christians of Anatolia” at which time Pre-1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek dances were presented by the Aradzani Dance Group, Hye Bar Dance Group and Greek American Folk Dance Society. Aradzani has performed at numerous venues including Columbia University, The Armenian Museum at Queens College, Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention at Fordham University, Knights of Vartan and at the Holy Martyrs’ annual Street Festival.
Aradzani meets for rehearsals every Monday evening at 7:30. For more information or to join, please contact Robert Haroutunian at RHarout@msn.com.