Watertown TAB & Press, MA
Nov 25 2006
The power of performance
By Rachel Onanian Nadjarian/ CORRESPONDENT
Friday, November 24, 2006
We experience it yet again.
The excitement from watching the movements, the energy, the
sound; the joy from seeing the celebration of our rich and colorful
culture; the sadness from recollecting how much we’ve endured and the
sacrifices we must continue to make; and the pride from knowing that
what we are seeing is a representation of our deep and everlasting
heritage.
On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, the Sayat Nova Dance Company thrilled
audiences at the Emerson’s Cutler Majestic Theater in Boston with its
20th anniversary performance titled "Power in Rhythm." For more than
two hours, Sayat Nova entertained and inspired through an artistic
weave of Armenian dance, music and theatrical landscapes.
Adorned in stunning and colorful costumes, more than 60 dancers
brought to life the strength, passion and determination that so
beautifully characterize the Armenian people and culture. Whether
through the graceful movements in "Yaman Yar," the festive
choreography in "Vasbouragan" or the compelling significance of "The
Yearning of Karabagh," Armenian and non-Armenian audiences alike
could not avoid feeling connected to each story and mesmerized by its
narrators.
Is this a new experience for a Sayat Nova audience? No. Those who
have watched a Sayat Nova performance in the past know all too well
the powerful charm with which it can transplant them to a soulful
state of reflection and wonder. But Sayat Nova’s impact has moved to
a whole new level with this recent production. More dramatic
lighting, more elaborate costumes and a larger group of dedicated
dancers have magnified the experience of watching Sayat Nova perform.
Showcasing it at Emerson’s Majestic Theater made the performance all
that more impressive.
After 20 years, Sayat Nova is stronger than it’s ever been and
more poised than ever to carve a new and focused direction. As with
any performing arts group, presentation is intrinsic to Sayat Nova’s
purpose. It "preserves and promotes" the Armenian culture by
presenting it to others through the medium of dance; the more it
dances, the more it achieves its mission. Sayat Nova’s perseverance
is a testimony to the Armenian character, and as long as audiences
continue to walk away from each performance with a deeper
understanding of the Armenian identity – their own or someone else’s
– then Sayat Nova has been a success.
This year has seen Sayat Nova celebrate its 20 years of success
in numerous ways. From a gala banquet held at the Copley Fairmont
Hotel, which was attended by more than 200 of the community’s most
well-respected members, to large-scale performances in New York and
Montreal, this group is poised to meet any challenge ahead of them
with zeal and energy uncommon in many community-based organizations.
And so the story goes on. Sayat Nova will continue to enrich the
hearts and minds of all those who observe it for many years to come.
The future is bright for the Sayat Nova Dance Company and for all
those who one day desire to be members of this unique group of
dedicated volunteers.
After 20 years, we hail your achievements and look forward to seeing
the next leap forward. The power is in you.
Rachel Onanian Nadjarian currently resides in New York with her
husband and three children. She is a past dancer and soloist in the
Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston.