Here you will find the description of some of the Armenian line dances. There are also video clips to give you and idea what each dance looks like. The clips are in two formats Real Player (RP) and Windows Media Player (WMP). To save the videos on your computer, try right clicking on the link and selecting the "Save Target As..." menu item.
If you are interested in learning these dances stop by the Armenian Line Dance Workshop in NYC or Armenian Line Dance Workshop in New Jersey
Also visit
Tom Bozigian's web page.
He is a specialist
of Armenian Dance, Music, Choreography and
Dance Ethnography.
Shourch Bar (a.k.a. Armenian Shuffle) Shourch Bar means line dance in Armenian. This dance is one of the most common at the parties in USA. In the Northeast, from Alexandria, Virginia to Boston, Massachusetts, this Shourch Bar is the most popular dance. The Shourch Bar is an Armenian-American dance originating in the United States. Video Clips: WMP RP
Michigan Hop is another very popular Armenian-American dance originating in the United Sates. This dance is very lively and upbeat. Michigan Hop is a favorite dance among the Armenian youth on the east cost of USA.
Video Clip of the basic the Michigan Hop: WMP RP
A more lively version of the Michigan Hop: WMP
The Armenian Misirlou is also one of the most popular dances at Armenian parties. The dance is a modern Armenian-American dance. In the video clip, the Armenian Misirlou is danced to the song "Siretsi". Video Clips: WMP RP
This Tamzara is a line dance from Western Erzerum near Yerzinga, Historical Armenia. The variance to this dance is when the music changes, the Bar Bashi (dance leader) calls for the line to take four steps to the left, twice. The Tamzara from Kharpet and Arabkir are performed with couples, or three persons holding hands. It is believed that the name Tamzara was derived from a legendary folk hero named Tamuz-Ara. Click here for a video clip of Tamzara.
Kessab Bar: Kessab Armenians come from Giligia, Armenia. Some Kessabzi's also come from Kharpet Village in the 15th/16th centuries during the reign of Levon 1. Many were merchants. Video clips: WMP RP
Bijou is a dance from Sepastia (Sivas) Historical (Western) Armenia. This Bijou is danced to the music of Chem-Oo-Chem. Video Clip
This Papouri is a line dance from Van, Historical Armenia. The dance and the music has three distinctive parts. The dance starts slow with the 1st part. Then the tempo gradually increases going into the 2nd part (holding hands), then the 3rd part (360 degree turn with 2 claps). The dance then goes back to the 1st part and repeats the 2nd, 3rd part, finishing with the 1st part. Click here for the 1st part of Papouri. Click here for the 2nd & 3rd part of Papouri.
The Laz Bar is a fisherman's dance from the Black Sea region of Trebizond. It is also known as the Sev Dzov or Karadeniz region. The Laz Bar represents the movements of the fish as it is being pulled out of the Black Sea. Click here for the 1st part of Laz Bar. Click here for the 2nd part of Laz Bar.
Arabkir Bar is a line dance from Arabkir village of Historical Armenia. Click here for a video clip of Arabkir Bar.
Ghosh Bilezik is a line dance from Erzerum Historical (Western) Armenia. The dance was brought to America the beginning of the 20th century by genocide survivors. Video Clip: WMP