On Saturday, 4 April 2009 (8:00 p.m.),at the recently-renovated Pallas cinema-theatre in Nicosia, the annual Armenian dance performance will take place. For the 9th year in a row, Hamazkayin “Oshagan” has been organising the annual performance of Armenian dances, performed by none other than the young generation 
of the Armenian Cypriot community. As with the previous years, the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture have kindly sponsored the event, which is under the supervision of choreographer and director Janna Tahmizian, from Armenia.
The forty Armenian Cypriot male and female dancers are expected to give an impressive performance of 21 traditional and modern Armenian dances, having practised them since December. The dances are one of the many ways with which the historical Armenian Cypriot community preserves its cultural heritage and, at the same time, presents it to the rest of the Cypriots. Dancing is also a very good way to create bonding amongst the Armenian Cypriot youth, by bringing them together and instilling discipline, grace and pride in them. The dances connect them with their Armenian roots, the harshness of the Armenian land, the optimism of the Armenian history, and the vigour of the Armenian music. Not only that, each dance has its own colourful 
outfit, the designs of which were made by Janna Tahmizian, who has been kindly offering her services for the last 9 years.
The Armenian dance ensemble is called “Sipan” and was founded in 1999, together with the “Timag” theatrical group, as part of the Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Hamazkayin “Oshagan”, itself originally founded in 1938. The indispensable moral and financial contribution of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture makes the event a tangible reality every year. The event is under the auspices of the Mayoress of Nicosia, Ms Eleni Mavrou, and under the patronage of the Representative of the Armenian Community, Mr Vartkes Mahdessian. The Pallas hall is located on the corner of Regaena and Arsinoe streets, near Paphos Gate. The entrance fee will be only 10 euros for all ages. We expect to see you there!
By Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
