Armenian Martial Dance – Embodying Unity, Strength and Collective Defence

…And now for something completely different.  As you may know, here at Kuriositas we love a good dance but the videos we showcase tend to be contemporary, in terms of both music and movement. However, sometimes it’s good to sit back and take in the past. This little gem from the Berd Dance Ensemble of Armenia showcases their national dance beautifully, set in the mountains of the country and beautifully shot.  The dance is very masculine, but it should be noted that “Berd” does mean fortress, and is also the name of the dance where the men create towers out of themselves (sadly not in this video).

Armenian martial dance emphasises brotherhood, physical strength, unity and resilience – and you can see from this performance how it was designed to be more than just recreation.  This is cultural team-building and bonding.  The particular dance shown here is traditional from the westen highlands of the country and it is believed that it evolved as warrior initiation dances as well as for agricultural and seasonal ceremonies.  The roots of these dances go back at least 2,000 years.

The costumes, too, are worth noting.  The white caps with red wrapping or scarves are the traditional regional headgear from Western Armenia. The red fabric tied around the cap adds colour contrast and helps visually unify the group on stage. Red is a traditional Armenian colour symbolising strength and vitality and you can also see it in their embroidered waistcoats.  The whole ensemble is topped by the grey, shaggy vests which suggest mountain or shepherd origins. Armenian armies often drew on rural levies, so aspects of everyday village dress influenced the appearance of light infantry.  Oh and let’s not forget the waistband and trousers? Superb!