Sayat Nova Dance Co. To Perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Ashjian noted that when he heard about the offer, he was afraid to announce it, as it would interfere with everyone’s Thanksgiving plans. “I was crossing my fingers that we could go,” he said.

He did not need to worry.

“You should have heard the screams. They were so happy. There were tears in my eyes. I thought I would have to convince them. Now a lot of parents are coming to see us and cheer,” he added.

Dancer Rebecca Shahverdian, 23, work for an e-commerce company in Boston and has been with Sayat Nova for five years. She said, “It is very, very exciting for us, especially since it is basically the biggest way possible that we could be preserving and promoting our culture, to be able to dance and show we are to the entire nation and practically the rest of the world. It’s overwhelming. It’s amazing.”

Another young dancer, Tina Kotikian, a high school senior, said, “I am really excited to go and I’m really proud and honored that we got this opportunity to represent Armenian culture.”

Her brother, Alec Kotikian, a college student, said, “I really can’t describe how I feel about performing in the parade because on some level I am just thinking about how it’s another show, which is how I keep my nerves calm before getting on stage. But on another level, I am beyond excited and honored and proud to be performing in front of millions of viewers representing not only my local Armenian culture, but also Armenians around the globe.”

Niari Keverian, a dancer with Sayat Nova for 15 years and a member of the SNDC executive committee since 2006, has been close to the organization even earlier than that. Her mother and aunt, she said, were both with Sayat Nova and she was backstage since she was 3, watching them.

“I think it is an incredible honor for SNDC to perform at such a prestigious event. It is the largest honor that any Armenian folk dance company can get in the United States. It is not just Sayat Nova. It highlights our nationality, our heritage, our culture, not just the United States, but all over the world. It is a huge honor for the entire diaspora,” she said, just like when Armenia had a float at the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena a couple of years ago.

“If you look at the list of performers, it is very, very prestigious,” she added.

The Macy’s parade is expected to be viewed by 50 million people on television and online, with an estimated 4 million people along the parade route.

Already, he said, he has seen the story about the dance group in a Turkish newspaper, with the wrong photo.

SNDC was founded in 1986 and is a non-profit organization that relies solely on the commitment and dedication of its supporters.

There are 56 dancers in the group now, and of those about 50 are going to New York.

The group holds three weekly rehearsals. Right now, they are rehearsing that one minute and eight second dance without stop.

Over the past 30 years, the company has had approximately 500 volunteer members contribute to their mission, which is to preserve and promote the Armenian culture through dance.

They have performed at various prestigious venues including Boston’s Hatch Shell, Boston Common’s Outside the Box Festival, the Emerson Majestic Theatre, Jacob’s Pillow, Gillette stadium, and Armenia’s Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

Those who want can go to the Facebook page of the group and follow the event live.