Zvartnots Dance Ensemble was founded on December 9, 1989, by Vartan Aghajanyan and has been the most recognized Armenian dance group in the Los Angeles area. Zvartnots Dance Ensemble’s repertoires have reflected Armenian dance, music and folk attire in its most traditional form. More importantly, however, the choreographed pieces have been presented with the highest level of professionalism and reflected the spirit of the Armenian people, both through their struggles and their triumphs. Throughout its history, the Ensemble has drawn large audiences for its annual performances in the Los Angeles area. The thematic characteristics, along with their compositional structure and aesthetic sensibilities, have set the stage for each performance.
These include: 1991 – Premiere Performance. 1993 – Mother Armenia. 1994 – Land of Nairi. 1996 – Awakening. 1997 – Chimes of Armenians. 1998 – Oh Armenian World. 1999 – The Armens. 2001 – Christian Armenia – 10th anniversary performance. 2002 – New Armenia. 2004 – 15th Anniversary Performance. 2005 – Armenian Crossstones. 2008 – Sons of Armenia. 2011 – 20th Anniversary Performance. 2012 – Sun Worshippers. 2014 – 25th Anniversary Performance in Yerevan, Armenia. 2015 – 25th Anniversary Performance in Los Angeles. 2017 – Armenian Eagles. In addition to the annual performances, Zvartnots Dance Ensemble has regularly appeared on stages across the United States. Performances have also been arranged with various well-known Armenian performers.
Zvartnots Dance Ensemble’s performances have also extended abroad. The group was invited by the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Culture and the Dancing Art Union of Armenia for concert tours throughout Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The 5 trips extend throughout the summers of 1992, 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2014. Zvartnots Dance Ensemble has also traveled to Malta to compete in the 2004 International Dance Festival where they were awarded the gold medal prize. The Ensemble was the first group in the Diaspora to participate in the festival representing Armenia. In 2005, the Ensemble was also invited to take part in an Armenian festival held in Montreal, Canada, and in 2009, 2013 and 2017 performed on the Carnival Cruise Line. In 2012 Zvartnots Dance Ensemble was invited to Phoenix, Arizona.
Shortly after the performance in Arizona, Zvartnots Dance Ensemble received an invitation from the Hamazkaine Armenian Sydney Dance Company to perform in Australia in July 2012. Two nights of exceptional performances were held at the Concourse Theatre in Sydney, both of which were sold out weeks in advance.
In 2014, Zvartnots Dance Ensemble performed at the National Opera House in Yerevan, Armenia to celebrate their 25th anniversary. In 2017 & 2019 CAH Board and Reach For The Stars Foundation invited Zvartnots Dance Ensemble to perform in Fresno. In 2018 Zvartnots Dance Ensemble had the opportunity to perform in Boston. Zvartnots Dance Ensemble had the honor of performing at the LA Kings game for the Armenian Heritage Night in October of 2019. The closure of 2019 was a remarkable milestone for Zvartnots Dance Ensemble, as the group celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a SOLD-OUT concert in Glendale, CA. In 2023 Zvartnots Dance Ensemble toured South America (Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil) with two sold-out concerts in Uruguay & Argentina. Zvartnots Dance Ensemble is currently in preparation for our 35th Annual concert which will be held on May 5, 2024 at Los Angeles then followed by concert/tour in Armenia, summer of 2024. Zvartnots Dance Ensemble was created with a simple goal: to safeguard the age-old traditions of Armenian dance and culture. Today, this goal continues to be realized by the many young men and women of the Armenian Dance Center.
