Lernazang Brings Traditional Armenian Dance and Live Music to Descanso Gardens

Traditional Armenian dances, live vocals and the sounds of the duduk and zurna filled Descanso Gardens as the Lernazang ensemble introduced visitors to Armenian folk culture through an outdoor performance on Thursday.

The Armenian Report attended the event, where families and visitors from different backgrounds gathered to watch the Los Angeles-based ensemble perform dances rooted in the traditions of Western Armenia.

Lernazang artistic director Armen Adamian said the ensemble specializes in Armenian ethnographic dance and music passed down through generations. Its performances feature live vocals, percussion and traditional Armenian woodwind instruments, including the duduk, zurna, pku and blul.

“This is a really special repertoire to us,” Adamian said. “It comes from Western Armenia, and we take a lot of time and care to practice, preserve and create this culture together as a group and as a collective.”

Vocalist and dancer Mary Sekayan said Descanso Gardens invited the ensemble to perform, giving its members an opportunity to share Armenian culture with a wider audience in one of Southern California’s best-known public gardens.

“We were super excited about the opportunity to perform here and, of course, to spread Armenian culture,” she said.

The performance drew members of the public as well as people who attend Lernazang’s weekly dance classes. Some audience members joined the dancers from their seats and followed along with the traditional movements.

“I was amazed with the turnout,” Sekayan said. “We were happy to see people come from different backgrounds and also our following from the ensemble.”

She said watching students and supporters dance along made the outdoor performance especially meaningful.

“As a performer, seeing them dance along with us to the repertoire in the audience is just really special, especially in an outdoor space,” Sekayan said.

Lernazang distinguishes itself from many Armenian dance groups by focusing on ethnographic traditions rather than the choreographed, ballet-influenced style that became widespread during the Soviet era.

“The idiom we perform is something that has been passed down through generations through oral traditions,” Adamian said.

Dance instructor Ani Hakobyan said Lernazang offers public classes Mondays at 8 p.m. at the AGBU Center in Pasadena and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Kessab Banquet Hall in Reseda.

More information is available on Lernazang’s Instagram page.

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