Gagik Ginosyan - Karin Folk Group

Biography

Gagik Martirosi Ginosyan was born on August 3, 1966, in the Georgian SSR, in the Armenian-spirited city of Akhaltsikhe. Gagik Ginosyan is an Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, a dance scholar, folklorist, public figure, cyberneticist, and a participant of the Artsakh war.

Early Years (1966–1985)

His father, Martiros Ginosyan, was a carpenter and furniture maker. His ancestors (the Ginosyan clan) migrated between 1828–1830 under the leadership of Bishop Karapet Bagratuni from Karin (Erzurum) in Western Armenia—from the small town of Yeghegis (Ilija) and surrounding villages—around 50,000 Armenians who settled in Javakhk. Former residents of Ilija, including the Ginosyan family, settled in the village of Tsughurut, Akhaltsikhe. His mother, Tsovinar Toroyan, was a homemaker who did sewing in her free time. Gagik was their second son.

In 1972, he entered the city’s secondary school, graduating in 1982. From 1982–1983 he worked as a laborer in Akhaltsikhe’s “Mobile Mechanized Column.” At his father’s initiative, he moved to Yerevan the same year and was admitted to the “Technical Cybernetics” faculty of the Polytechnic University of Armenia, specializing in “Automation and Telemechanics,” which he completed in 1990.

Military Service (1985–1987)

The year 1985 was pivotal in Gagik Ginosyan’s life. About his military service he said: “I must say that the greatest school in my life was the army, and it truly changed many things in me. I agree with the opinion that every man must go through that school, and if he doesn’t, something will certainly be missing.”

Military Training and the Artsakh War (1990–1996)

From 1990–1994 he worked at the Yerevan Physics Institute as a senior researcher. Between 1992–1994 he participated in the Artsakh War as part of the secret volunteer detachment “X” of the “Eagle Suicide Fighters” battalion under the command of architect Alexander Tamanyan’s grandson, Alexander Tamanyan Jr. He destroyed two enemy tanks. Later, his commanders—Alexander Tamanyan Jr. and Leonid Azgaldyan—became ideological pillars for Ginosyan.

From 1995–1996 he completed the “Vystrel” Higher Officer Courses named after Marshal Shaposhnikov of the Soviet Union, receiving the qualification of “Regiment and Brigade Commander.”

Work

1990–1994: Researcher at the Yerevan Physics Institute.

1996–1999: Director of the Yerevan office of Gyumri’s “Shant” TV and Radio Company.

2001–2008: Military instructor at School No. 131 named after Peyo Yavorov.

20–201_: Served as an expert on Armenian traditional dance at the “Hay Aspet” educational foundation. (Original text includes a date typo; retained unchanged.)

2011–2024: Dance instructor at Ayb School.

2012–2024: Taught at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema.

2013–2024: Hosted his own program “Hayo Tesak” (“The Armenian Character”) on Armenian Public Radio.

2015–2024: Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “National Song and Dance Academy” foundation and Head of NSDA “Karin” Scientific Center.

Cultural Activity

By fate, joining the ensemble led by the renowned bard and great devotee of national song, Patriotic Teacher Hayrik Muradyan, Gagik Ginosyan began his acquaintance with Armenian traditional culture and took his first steps in studying it. Later, replacing concert activity with ethnographic fieldwork, and studying the legacies of Komitas, ethnographer Srbouhi Lisitsian, and choreologist Vahram Aristakesyan, he traveled through villages recording hundreds of traditional dance samples, songs, rituals, and other aspects of folk life. The number of dance samples recorded by him reaches about 600.

“I fear—deeply fear—that dance might suddenly become like Grabar”

Van and Akunk

Since 1987, Gagik Ginosyan danced in the “Van” ethnographic ensemble founded by Hayrik Muradyan. Between 1987–2001, through the concert programs of “Van” and “Akunk,” he participated in numerous international tours and became laureate of 4 international festivals: the 3rd International Festival in Licata, Italy, and the Pietraperzia Festival (1996), the 5th International “Catalina” Festival in Iași, Romania (1999), and the 2nd UNESCO-themed International Festival in Karlovac, Croatia.

Tsovak and Karin

In 2001, Gagik Ginosyan founded the “Tsovak” and “Karin” traditional song and dance ensembles.

The “Karin” traditional song and dance ensemble has received numerous certificates and awards, participating in various competitions, festivals, and television projects. In parallel, the ensemble performed throughout Armenia and abroad. In 2011, representing Armenia at the 14th World Competition-Festival of National Dances in Spain (held since 1985), “Karin” won first place in the dance category and third prize for musical accompaniment. For this achievement, the Ministry of Culture awarded G. Ginosyan the Golden Medal “for significant contribution to the development and promotion of national dance art.”

In 2012, the “Tsovak” children’s traditional song and dance group won 3rd prize at the International Children’s Traditional Dance Competition organized by the President of Turkmenistan.

Since 2005, on the last Friday of every month, open traditional dance classes titled “Our Dances and Us” have been held in Yerevan with the initiative of the “Karin” ensemble, attended by thousands of participants.

Heritage

Theater of Ethnography

In 2006, he founded the “Theater of Ethnography” and, together with the “Karin” ensemble, staged his authored productions: “Father of Armenian Song” (2006, 2015—dedicated to Hayrik Muradyan’s jubilees), “Fragrant Homeland” (2007, 2025), “The Conduct of the Armenians” (2009), “The Cross of War” (2014), and “Wedding Chime” (2019—dedicated to Komitas’ 150th anniversary, based on Paruyr Sevak’s poem The Unquenchable Belfry).

“Kakavagir” Dance Notation System

In collaboration with the company “Instigate,” Gagik Ginosyan created the “Vostan” computer software in 2013–2014—based on Srbouhi Lisitsian’s kinetography (movement notation system) developed in the 1940s. The digital processing and notation of dances are now successfully carried out by students of the Ayb School’s “Kakavagir” project club. The system is designed for precise recording of any physical movement, allowing the most accurate documentation of traditional dance samples and detailed study.

Works

In 2006, G. Ginosyan’s book “Voghjuyn tgherk!” was published, containing his prose poems, aphorisms, and journalistic articles about the Artsakh War. The book has been reprinted three times to date.

“National Academy of Song and Dance”

Emphasizing the preservation, development, and public dissemination of traditional songs and dances—returning them to everyday life and restoring them as part of a living culture—and promoting national self-awareness, in 2015 the Ayb Educational Foundation and Gagik Ginosyan founded the “National Song and Dance Academy,” which today bears his name.

The National Song and Dance Academy is engaged in the preservation, scholarly research, public dissemination, development of educational programs, and teaching of traditional songs and dances.

It encompasses four main directions:

Educational,
Military Dance,
Cultural,
Scientific

Throughout its entire activity, the Academy has carried out extensive work and achieved tangible results in several areas. One of the most significant achievements is the introduction of the “National Song and Dance” subject in public schools.

In 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Academy and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, by which the Foundation was recognized as the leading structure in the field.

The “National Song and Dance” subject is taught by teachers of various specializations who participate in mandatory professional training. Today, the subject is taught in hundreds of public schools across Armenia.

"Karin" Scientific Center

Motivated by the need to restore previously documented ethnographic materials and to conduct new studies, the “Karin” Scientific Center for the Study and Research of Armenian Traditional Culture was founded in 2018 through the initiative and leadership of Gagik Ginosyan.

At the core of the Center lies G. Ginosyan’s extensive archive, accumulated through years of fieldwork—containing a vast collection of recorded and filmed materials, including both previously known and newly discovered Armenian traditional songs, dances, dance-songs, rituals, and more.

The Scientific Center aims to create a comprehensive collection of Armenian traditional dances—called the “Paradaran”, to organize academic conferences, and to continue ethnographic and research activities both in Armenia and abroad.

Պարգևներ

Throughout different years, Gagik Ginosyan has been awarded various state, departmental, and other medals of Armenia.

1997 – “Ardziv Mahapartner” Commemorative Medal, by decree of the Minister of Defense of Armenia, Vazgen Sargsyan
1998 – RA “For Courage” Medal, by decree of the President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan
2000 – First Prize of the A. Isahakyan Republican Literary Competition for Young Creators
2005 – “Yerkrapah of Armenia” Commemorative Medal
2007 – “Vazgen Sargsyan” Order of the “Ardziv Mahapartner” Union
2007 – CIS Defense Sports Technical Committee (former DOSAAF) “For Merit” Order
2008 – RA Ministry of Defense “Vazgen Sargsyan” Medal
2011 – Honored Worker of Culture of Armenia
2011 – Highest Gold Medal of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia
2012 – “Combat Service” Medal of the Republic of Artsakh
2012 – “Garegin Nzhdeh”
2012 – RA Ministry of Defense “20 Years of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia” Jubilee Medal
2013 – “Honored Cultural Figure of Yerevan City” Medal
2015 – “Gratitude” Medal

He who knows how to create—his spirit lies beyond the universe.