The traditional song and dance group “Tsovak” was founded in 2001 by Armenian dance scholar, folklorist, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, and founder of the “Karin” traditional song and dance ensemble, Gagik Ginosyan. The group is named after the Armenian composer and Honored Worker of Culture of the Armenian SSR, Tsovak Hambardzumyan.
“Tsovak” unites teenagers and young adults around the mission of studying, mastering, and disseminating Armenian culture, thereby contributing to the preservation of national values and the awareness and strengthening of identity.
The musical director of the group is singer Anush Balbabyan, whose special teaching methodology and individual approach contribute to the correct and skillful performance of national songs and the transmission of their meaning.
The group’s dance instructor is Abel Matevosyan, who, through deep study of dances and movements, preserves and refines numerous dance samples, passing them on to the group members. Thanks to him, forgotten but valuable dance pieces are presented on stage and gain a second life.
Throughout its 24 years of activity, “Tsovak” has participated in numerous events and concerts, receiving many certificates and diplomas. The group has performed in schools, development centers, military units, and has led traditional celebrations such as Easter, Barekendan, Palm Sunday, and others. It has also taken part in the theatrical productions of the “Karin” traditional song and dance ensemble—“The Father of Armenian Song,” “Khngahot Erkir,” “The Chime of Wedding,” as well as concerts dedicated to the group’s 15th and 20th anniversaries and other performances.
“I have a formula that begins with the prefix ‘self.’ A person must be self-knowing; from that should arise the idea of self-respect, and then the awareness of living sovereignly. Self-knowledge is the first step, and that is what we try to give our youth: to know yourself, your history, your language, and your culture.”
— Gagik Ginosyan
“It is hard to find a better means than dance to influence a person, to instill a national character, to nourish from national roots, and to multiply the essence many times over.”