Khalulyan 1

Seda Khalulyan
Professor Makarosyan
English 114B
10 March 2015
Space Relating to Identity and Culture
Going to dance for twelve years has really shaped my cultural identity.
Growing up with dance showed me a new side of the Armenian cultural
aspects. Every time I learned a new dance, I learned a little bit more about
the meaning behind the dance and the history behind my culture. The
costumes required to be worn during the dance concerts represented the
way Armenian men and women would dress in the past. The music in the
dances is very traditional and cultural and represents the way life was back
then. Everything I practiced in my dance studio, led to the big concert day,
which depicts the history of Armenia. Taking a trip to the Getty Center with
my peers was also a key factor that I connected back to my own identity and
culture. Through the costumes, the music, and the history behind each
dance, I was able to better understand my heritage, allowing myself to form
an identity connected with my culture.
In my dance studio, before concerts, my dance teacher would always
have extra practice days. During the dress rehearsals, every time I would
wear a certain dress, I would feel more connected to my culture. One
particular dress, which I wore during the dance Ter Voghormya, meaning
Lord have Mercy, was long black or white with a gold cross on it. This dress

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and dance represented the Armenian Genocide. During this dance at the
concert, my dance teacher would play a video about the Armenian Genocide
on the projector behind the dancers for about two minutes. As dancers, my
partners and I would show the audience a representation of the struggles our
ancestors faced during this hardship. I connected very much through this
dance because I would put myself in my ancestors shoes. Because I felt so
connected to this dance, I would portray the dance moves in way where I
actually felt the pain and suffering of my ancestors.
Another dance I performed named Kochari is about coming together
to protect ourselves from enemies or invaders. This dance was created over
a thousand years ago, and it is still one of the most popular and relevant
dances in the Armenian culture. In the dance, men specifically, act as a
barrier or a guard to protect their land and women, as well as children. This
dance symbolizes the aggression Armenians felt others had towards them.
This dance relates to my sense of self because even now the Armenian
community demands for recognition of all the hardships that have or are
occurring in Armenia. I participate in these protests and in a way we are
creating a barrier and displaying our resilience like the way we do in Kochari.
In The Pomegranate Trees, William Saroyan states, There is no other fruit in the world
like the pomegranate (345). Once I read this quote, I thought about a dance I performed named
Nureni. In the Armenian culture, the pomegranate represents fertility, growth, and prosperity.
In this dance, it is only females dancing, which has to do with the fact that the pomegranate
represents more of a feminine aspect. I was to wear a long red and green dress with a long white

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veil all while holding a pomegranate in my hand. I related this back to my identity because in my
culture, it is very important for the newlywed couple to have a child shortly after they get
married. Furthermore, I related this back to my culture because after countless difficulties and
struggles my people faced, they still stayed strong and wanted to grow as a society and country.
The music played in my dance studio was another way of expressing
the Armenian culture. Within the music, there are variations of emotions
displayed. One specific song that I danced under is called Hzor Hayastan.
Every time this song was played loudly, I would get the chills because it
represented how much my people wanted to be strong and brave. In the
dance Shalaxo, the music is very upbeat and fast, which encourages
people to dance, as well as celebrate happiness. On the other hand, in the
dance Memories of Komitas, the music is very sorrowful and touching.
During the my performances, looking out at the audience I would see how
touched they were, regardless if the dance was joyful or tearful because they
would feel connected to their identity, as did I.
Now that I no longer attend dance, I still participate in many ways
possible. I assist my dance instructor by teaching the younger students new
dance moves. I also explain the history behind the dance. Days that lead up
to the concert, I volunteer with setting up, making sure the costumes are all
set, and everyone knows what is happening. On concert days, I help
backstage and enjoy the show. I feel pride in the younger generations for
participating and expressing their culture.

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My dance studio became like a second home to me. Each time I had
practice I was very eager and joyful to go and see what new aspect of my
culture and myself I would be learning about. At the end of every concert,
many individuals would commend, and thank me and tell me how proud they
were for keeping our culture alive. This made me feel more confident about
myself and the involvement I have in my nationality.
Going to the Getty Center for a group project really opened my eyes
and made me realize that this certain space also relates to me. The Getty
Center has many different paintings and art pieces from many different
cultures and time periods from all over the world. In a way, this relates to me
because Armenians are spread out throughout the world. There were a few
paintings that I linked back to my Armenian culture because the meanings
behind those certain pieces connect back to my cultures values and beliefs,
along with the lifestyle. In my culture, there are many colors, in various
forms and aspects, such as the traditional dresses and symbolic fruits, like
the pomegranate and apricot. Just like the Getty Center, it held many colorful
paintings and art pieces, which made me, connect it back to my culture.
One specific painting that caught my attention was A Storm on a
Mediterranean Coast by Claude-Joseph Varnet. This art piece gives a very
dull feeling to it. Above the ocean, the sky and clouds are very dark and
gloomy, while the waves are violently hitting the coastline. On the coast,
there are numerous people who survived this hardship; there are also many
people helping the survivors get back to land. Towards the end of the

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painting, there is a lighthouse that signifies hope and reassurance. I connect
this back to my culture because my ancestors have faced many hardships,
one being the Armenian Genocide. Throughout this difficulty, there were a
great number of people from diverse countries who tried helping the
Armenians get somewhere safe. Also, during this time, Armenians kept
holding onto their state of mind that everything was going to turn out for the
better.
Another painting I connect back to my culture is The Russian Cradle
by Jean-Baptiste Le Prince. In this painting, a peasant family is cherishing
their newborn child who is hanging from a tree in a cradle. Alongside the
women, sheep and goat are surrounding them, which symbolizes strength
and leadership. There is another woman pointing directly at the child, which
shows that the child is a new fortune and luck to this family. I relate to this
strongly because in my culture, when a baby is born, it is a blessing. If the
baby is a boy, he is the one to keep the family name and provide for the
family. If the baby is a girl, she is the caregiver and housekeeper.
Dance shaped my identity in a unique way. Considering I am not living
in my motherland, dance is way to incorporate my culture and sense of self
into my everyday life. This allows me to have and experience the best of two
completely different cultures. At times, living in a different country can allow
one to forget their origins and where they came from but luckily, that was
not the case for me. Going to an Armenian dance studio for more than a
decade, allowed me to create relationships with my dance partners and feel

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more connected to my Armenian community. This experience shaped me to
understand any struggle my ancestors faced or celebrate any happiness they
came across throughout their history. Having the opportunity to visit a
museum for a class assignment made me realize how much a space can
have an affect on an individual. After many years, learning more and in
depth about my culture, I have a much greater appreciation and
understanding towards where I come from.

Works Cited
Saroyan, William. The Pomegranate Trees. The William Saroyan Reader. 1st
ed. New York: G.
Braziller, 1958. 336-46. Print.