By Hasmik Hovhannisian
It all started from simple curiosity and eventually became a way of life. A Dutch folk dance teacher, Tineke Van Geel, took her first classes in Armenian dance from two Armenian teachers in the
How it began
I started as a folk dance teacher; I was teaching Yugoslavian, Russian, Israeli and other dances. I became interested in Armenian dances at the end of 1970's. That's because I met a dance teacher who had come from
The only way I could get into
?
I tried to take as many classes as possible and with the help of AOKS, the committee for relations with foreign countries, I managed to have a full program. Of course, it was strange to have a foreigner wanting to participate in the training, but everybody was always very responsive. The only disadvantage was that I was frequently the tallest one present. Therefore I was put in the leading position in the line, not having a clue where to go or what to do! A very uncomfortable start! Another approach was to be put between two dancers who were trying to explain the details of their bounces and steps holding me firmly between them. A very difficult position to look carefully at each movement. I would have preferred to be behind the line and not be noticed learning the steps.
At the
Soviet
In 1988 I again got a scholarship. This time for a period of four-and-a-half months issued by the Dutch Ministry of Education. That was perhaps the worst time for
During the curfew period in 1988 a lot of articles were distributed by coupons. You received a coupons for butter, coffee and sugar. The first time
that I 'scored' my coffee, I found out that I had to burn the beans myself. An action which was entirely new to me and of course there was an awful smell burning them in the kitchen of the student hostel in Norki Massiv.
One time my husband called me and asked me how everything was and I cried out full of excitement:'” I have found a chicken.” The hot water problem I solved by buying a big spiral which could be electrically heated and putting it in a bucket of water.
At the time that I visited
When they knew I was married, one shock would change into another: many people couldn't understand how my husband had let me go and approved of all this. I started to visit
At some point I was fed up with the questions and told people that I had two children and that my parents took care of them. A normal situation in
Our daughter was born in 1989, so after a lot of traveling to
The biggest impact in my life was the earthquake in
Armenians
The best friends in my life are made in
I studied at Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute and Sayat Nova music school. One time the dean of the institute told me that the Minister of Culture wanted to see me. During our meeting he asked whether my room was OK and how everything was. An odd meeting if you compare the situation with the
The promotion of Armenian culture
In 1989 I published a book on
I used 23 different books written in Dutch, English and German. It was not the internet era yet! I didn't advertise the book I widespread it in circles. My main purpose was to inform dance students. It has never been translated in another language. But it has been used in the folk dance teacher education at the dance academy. When I published the book Armenian dances were practically unknown and the same applies to
In
Recently I visited a music shop in
I am evidently exporting merchandise back to
Now I teach Armenian dances throughout the world. Besides the dances I also speak about Armenian history, culture, people, and my own experience here. There are several aspects of Armenian dance and music that appeal to me most. There is a big contrast between very lyrical dances for women and very powerful men's dances. Even as a woman, both styles are very challenging. On the other side there is the beautiful music and large variety of mixed dances from many regions.
You have to teach Armenian dances to Europeans slowly, because they think they can never master the style and then they don't want to touch it again. Armenian dances are difficult in terms of involving all body in the movements. It is hard for Europeans; it is not our culture to work with the hands, so I build the repertoire gradually. When I teach in
I teach Armenian dances as if I am preparing people a sandwich. First bread, they know what it is, they take it, then butter, again well-known, then ham, etc. Many people say that my classes are successful just because I split the complicated movements into the simple elements and present them step by step.
Dance tours
At some point I had an idea to organize a dance tour to
I think the tours are very important for
I brought my first group last year. The idea was successful, this time I again filled up the tour. Next year I am going to organize two tours, one especially for Asian people who show a big interest in Armenian dances.
In this year's group there were forty-one women and six men. The majority are amateur dancers; very few of them are dance teachers. In this group there were some people who had never danced Armenian dance before and had no idea of what
There were also people from the previous tour. Armenian dances are very popular nowadays. We danced here, in
We learnt five new dances both for women and men. In the restaurant Cilicia our group began dancing
I have been coming to
Source: Hetq Online ? 26 June 2006
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