Genocide Centennial Event to Take Place in South Florida

Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston to Perform at FAU on Jan. 24

BOCA RATON, Fla.—The first official event in the United States marking the 100th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be held at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) on the evening of Sat., Jan. 24, when the local non-profit organization Armenian Genocide Commemoration, Inc. (AGC) brings Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston (SNDC) to Boca Raton for a one-night-only performance.

SNDC takes its name from the famous 18th-century troubadour Sayat Nova, whose beautiful music and poetry captures the essence of the Armenian soul and spirit. As part of a rich culture, Armenian dancing is a reflection of the life and legacy of the Armenian people. Each dance symbolizes livelihood, aspirations, legends, a celebration of life, and appreciation of beauty. SNDC’s mission is to preserve and promote Armenian culture, to foster an atmosphere of friendship among individuals sharing the pride and indomitable spirit of the Armenian people, and to further educate and elevate multi-cultural awareness within ethnic communities worldwide. Their newest choreography was designed specifically for the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations that will be taking place this year.

“The program displays the evolution of Armenian history depicted by dance, music, poetry, and storytelling,” said Garen Avetissyan, the group’s general manager. “The production takes you on a journey through pagan times, the adoption of Christianity, the Battle of Vartanantz, the cultural renaissance, the massacres of the genocide, to an ultimate celebration of an independent Armenia. You will experience triumph and despair, sorrow and exuberance as you watch Armenian history come to life. The show combines classical and avant-garde movement to evoke the power of Armenian culture.”

This year, Armenians around the world will commemorate 100 years since the beginning of the genocide on April 24, 1915, when Turkish authorities arrested some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). Thereafter, Armenians were uprooted from their homes and forced to march for hundreds of miles, deprived of food and water, to the Der Zor desert in what is now Syria. More than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children perished between 1915 and 1923. Since then, the Greeks, Assyrians, Ukrainians, Jews, Cambodians, Rwandans, and those in Darfur have all seen genocide take their people from them. Funds raised by Sayat Nova’s performance will go towards maintaining and expanding genocide awareness and education in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

Tickets for the SNDC performance can be purchased at the FAU Box Office by calling (800) 564-9539 or online through Ticketmaster. Tickets for students and seniors are $15; adults are $45-$55.

AGC, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to observe the Armenian Genocide and to bring public awareness to all genocides. The committee was incorporated in February 2014 and is comprised of representatives from the following South Florida organizations: St. David Armenian Church, St. Mary Armenian Church, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society, Florida Armenians, Homenetmen, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Knights of Vartan.

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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