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→ The "Sossi" Armenian Folk Ballets ←



The "Sossi" Armenian Folk Ballets
Extract from the video "The Armenians" filmed
at the "Yar" restaurant in Paris on June 7, 1969. Posted on YouTube by Traditions-Rencontre.
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Presentation written according to the "ASK Dictionary -
The French Personalities of Armenian Origin",
by Serge Kutnerian

The "Sossi" Armenian Folk Ballets were the first
traditional dance troupe to exist in Europe.
They were founded in 1947 in Paris by Mrs. Hasmig Kutnerian
(1906-1981), a teacher, actress, singer and secretary of the
Armenian Apostolic Church where she opened an Armenian Thursday
school, and where she taught dance, first to girls and then to boys.
In 1961, the troupe joined the National Federation of
Folk Groups for French Culture, foreign section.
The troupe performed many times in France, particularly in the
provinces, and participated in various folk dance competitions.
It had nearly eighty dancers, musicians and costume managers.
For its twentieth anniversary, it gave a grand gala
at the Mutualité Palace where Mrs. Kutnerian
received the Silver Medal of Crafts and Arts.
In 1973, the Cultural Association of Yerevan invited the
entire troupe to perform on different stages in Armenia.
It performed in shows in Portugal every year for
ten years, and performed also in shows in Belgium,
Germany, Greece, Spain, North Africa.
In France, it performed several years in a row at the Gala
of Les Peuples qui Chantent organized at the Sorbonne in Paris
by Mrs. Hayganush Torosian, singer, and performed also in the
grand balls, galas and festivals organized by Armenian associations
everywhere, in La Rochelle, La Charité-sur-Loire, Chatenay-Malabry,
Amélie-les-Bains, Brulain, Vélizy-Villacoublay, Ouzouer-le-Marché,
Montauban, Charolles, Le Mont-Dore, La Bourboule and in
other places such as Turin and Carouge.
It won several first prizes and cups during its existence, which
ended with the death of Mrs. Kutnerian in 1981, before the
accomplishment of future projects in Las Vegas in the United States.

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