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The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble, under the auspices of the Saint Vartan Cathedral in New York City, came into existence in 1992 as a small, young cultural group when a few teenagers wanted to familiarize the non-Armenian community with Armenian history, culture, and traditions. On the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the liberation of the ancient capital city Shushi in Karabagh in 1995, the group adopted the name Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble.

Today, sixteen years later, the group has flourished to 129 dancers, consisting of elementary, high school, and college students, and young professionals. The group meets each week to practice, under the volunteer and astute leadership of Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian, Choreographer and Artistic Director of the group, who, inspired by her brother Sarkis Paskalian, is well-respected for her meritorious career in dance, and tremendous dedication to teaching Armenian dance in various venues.

These past sixteen years have proven to be quite memorable for the ensemble performing in numerous cities, such as, New York, three times in Boston, Philadephia, twice in Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Karapagh, and most recently at the Opera House in Yerevan; this was the third time Shushi performed in Armenia. The ensemble has had the privilege to perform with some of the most popular Armenian artists: Composer Ara Gevorgian and his orchestra from Armenia, musical director Andranik Mouradian, poets Noune Avetisyan and Anahit Ishkhanian, vocalists Nune Yesayan, Hovig Krikorian, Shushan Petrossyan, Babin Boghosian, Rima Karapetyan, Lilian, Salbi Mailian, Hermineh Amirian, Hermine Toumanian, Ruben and Rafael Telunts, Armen Hovannesyan, Leyla Saribekyan, Vagharshak Ohanyan, Vahakn Drum Ensemble of Yerevan and Shoghaken Folk Ensemble from Yerevan.

Shushi's most recent performances were on the Armenian Heritage Cruise XII from January 11-18, 2009, where the dance ensemble had 2 spectacular shows for an international-Armenian audience of 1800. The shows featured famous vocalists from California, Hovig Krikorian and Armen Hovannesyan, along with musical director Andranik Mouradian.

For more information on the ensemble, visit www.shushidance.org, or email us at shushi@shushidance.org