“Karin” traditional song and dance ensemble was founded on September 21, 2001. The founder of the group is Gagik Ginosyan, Honored Cultural Worker of Armenia.

For 20 years now, every last Friday of the month in the evening, hundreds of Armenians — regardless of age, interests, or professions — gather around traditional culture, dancing and learning together. Over the years, this event has introduced traditional culture to hundreds of thousands of people. These very evenings have ignited in many of us the enduring spark to embark on the path of self-discovery.

Renowned Armenian dance ethnographer, founder of the Karin folk song and dance group, Honored Worker of Culture of Armenia Gagik Ginosyan, was convinced that children should study traditional culture from an early age. The “National Song and Dance” subject, authored by him, was first piloted at Ayb School in 2011. Since 2014, the subject has been introduced in Armenian schools, and currently, students in grades 5–7 in 463 schools across Armenia study “National Song and Dance.” Over the years, more than 600 teachers have been retrained by us.

The “National Song and Dance Academy” educational-cultural foundation was established by the Ayb Educational Foundation and renowned Armenian dance ethnographer, collector, public figure, and founder of the Karin folk song and dance group, Honored Worker of Culture of Armenia Gagik Ginosyan.

The foundation’s mission is to return national songs and dances to everyday life and make them a living part of Armenian culture, to be carried by every individual.

3rd honorary prize at UNESCO’s Mandorlo in Fiore festival for the performance “Sasuntsi Davit”.

The book “Parks Banakats” compiles detailed descriptions of 15 Armenian traditional war dances, along with several articles discussing the general structure of Armenian traditional dances, the importance of war dances in a soldier’s daily life, and their positive impact on military psychology.

Based on the need to restore previously recorded ethnographic materials and conduct new research, the Karin Scientific Center for the study and research of Armenian traditional culture was founded in 2018 under the initiative and leadership of Gagik Ginosyan

“Ghoghanj Harsanekan,” based on Paruyr Sevak’s poem “Anlreli Zangakatun” dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Komitas.

“Vark Karno” was a concert dedicated to the group’s 20th anniversary; it was not just a concert, but a major report of the work done over 20 years.

In 2022, the Karin Orchestra was formed. Artistic Director: Manvel Shakhkyan.

This concert was an imaginary door — the Karno Door — to dances, songs, and folk tales recorded exclusively from the Karin region.

After years of negotiations, starting from September 2023, pilot classes began at the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the RA Ministry of Defense and at the Marshal Baghramyan Combined Arms Training Center. Within the program, we plan to involve several other units of the RA Ministry of Defense, ultimately covering all structures and personnel subordinate to the Armed Forces.

In a very difficult period for us — after Gagik Ginosyan’s death — gathering all our strength, we went to Russia to complete the “Yes mi zarkn em ko bazki” concert program.

The “Karno Voice” solo concert program included both new arrangements of Armenian traditional songs and melodies as well as original compositions. The solo performers of the concert were Aram Movsisyan, Susanna Najaryan, Zhanna Davtyan, Ruzanna Gharajyan, and Meri Levonyan.

From the beginning, Gagik Ginosyan’s goal was to have expeditions and cultural visits throughout Armenia, rich in ideological discussions and aimed at deep acquaintance with self-discovery and traditional culture.