The National Song and Dance Academy (NSDA) marks a milestone — 10 incredible years of preserving Armenian cultural heritage! Founded by the Ayb Educational Foundation and the renowned Armenian choreographer, folklorist, and public figure Gagik Ginosyan — founder of the Karin traditional song and dance ensemble and an Honored Cultural Figure of the Republic of Armenia — the Foundation has a clear mission: to revive national songs and dances and reintegrate them into daily life. 

By doing so, it aims to make them an inseparable part of Armenian culture, ensuring everyone has the chance to carry this heritage forward. 

During its years of operation, the NSDA has accomplished extensive work and achieved remarkable results across several key areas.

In 2016, the NSDA signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, officially recognizing the Foundation as a leading organization in its field.

The subject of National Song and Dance has been incorporated into school curricula, taught by teachers from various disciplines who complete mandatory preparatory training courses. Today, this subject is part of the educational program in nearly half of Armenia’s schools.

However, as of 2024, the RA MօESCS has discontinued funding for teacher training. 

Despite this setback, the NSDA remains committed to its mission, striving to make National Song and Dance a part of the curricula in every school across Armenia.

Recognizing the importance of fostering a warrior spirit among Armenian soldiers, Gagik Ginosyan envisioned integrating traditional military dances into the training programs of the Armenian Armed Forces.

This vision came to life in 2023 with the launch of the program “Dances for the Army.” Under the guidance of talented choreographers Mkhitar Darmonts and Garegin Masuryan, military dance classes were introduced at the Vazgen Sargsian Military Academy of the RA Ministry of Defense and the Marshal Baghramyan Joint Training Unit.

Our teacher had a profound dream, and it is our duty to bring it to fruition: every Armenian soldier must embody the art and spirit of traditional military dance.

Preserving and sharing Armenian traditional culture requires thoughtful and informed efforts.

To achieve this, it is essential to restore previously collected ethnographic materials and carry out new research. With this in mind, the NSDA established the Scientific Center for the Study and Research of Armenian Traditional Culture.

The center is built on the extensive archive compiled by Gagik Ginosyan over years of dedicated folklore collection. This rich archive includes an impressive array of video and audio recordings, encompassing both well-known and newly discovered materials. It covers a broad spectrum of songs, dances, rituals, and other cultural expressions.

Projects such as the inclusion of National Song and Dance lessons in school curricula, the publication of the book Dancing for the Army, and the Kakavagir club are just a few examples of the many initiatives driven by the center.

The ultimate goal of the Scientific Center is to establish a comprehensive library of Armenian traditional dances, “Paradaran,” organize scientific conferences, and continue folklore research both in Armenia and abroad.

The NSDA has set ambitious goals to bring Gagik Ginosyan’s visionary ideas to life:

• School of Traditional Culture,
• Master’s Program on National Song and Dance,
• Annual Festival of Traditional Dance.

These are just a few of the many projects set to take shape this year. Together, shoulder to shoulder, we will achieve great things.