AS THE ARMENIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE TAKES THE STATE FAIR STAGE, TRADITIONS COME FULL CIRCLE
by Lou Ann Matossian

08-20-as-the-armenian-dance-ensemble-takes-the-sta te-fair-stage-traditions-come-full-circle
Thursday August 20, 2009

Local troupe to perform Sept. 5 at the "Great Minnesota Get-together"

Saint Paul, Minn. – Armenian dance in Minnesota goes back more than
a century, not quite as long as the Minnesota State Fair, which marks
its 150th anniversary August 27 through Labor Day. These two venerable
traditions – one modest, the other gargantuan – will meet on Sept. 5,
when the Armenian Dance Ensemble takes the stage at one of the largest
state fairs in the country.

Led by director-choreographer Naïry Digris, the St. Paul-based folk
troupe will present regional Armenian dances in four half-hour
performances. The general State Fair ticket price includes free
admission to the noon, 1:30, 3:00, and 4:00 p.m. shows in the
International Bazaar area of the fairgrounds.

"Since its founding in 1990 under the auspices of the Armenian Cultural
Organization of Minnesota, the Armenian Dance Ensemble has evolved
into a strong, self-sufficient, and organized entity," says Ms. Digris,
who also teaches Armenian dance in the lively Twin Cities international
dance community along with her husband, Ensemble member Terry McGibbon.

Now in its second generation, the Armenian Dance Ensemble aims to
preserve the regional dance traditions of historic Armenia, teach
them to interested Armenians and non-Armenians, and enhance community
awareness of Armenian heritage, history, and culture through music as
well as staged and narrated performances. Dancers of varying abilities,
ages, and ethnic backgrounds are welcome.

Following in their mother’s graceful footsteps, Natasha and Alarica
Hassett grew up with the Armenian Dance Ensemble. The sisters now dance
professionally with Minneapolis avant-garde companies – Natasha as a
co-founder of Catalyst and Alarica as a member of Ballet of the Dolls.

Today’s ensemble includes Bradley and Mitchell Erickson and their
mother, ACOM President Cynthia Reimers Erickson, descendants of a
North Dakota Armenian pioneer family.

Armenian dance arrived in Minnesota with turn-of-the century immigrants
from Kharpert and Sepastia. Their daughters staged the earliest known
public performance in 1932 at the original Festival of Nations – now
a long-running St. Paul multicultural institution in its own right –
and later generations carried on the custom.

With plenty of Festival of Nations experience under its embroidered
belt, the Armenian Dance Ensemble debuted at the State Fair in
2002. This year, the Festival of Nations is sponsoring the State Fair
stage where the troupe will take its second bow.

Some 1.7 million people are expected at the twelve-day celebration
of all things Minnesotan, which boasts an average daily attendance
of about 140,000.

And on September 5, in the graceful turn of a veil, traditions will
come full circle.