The first event of the Separate Chapter of Hamazkayin Kuwait, organized by Chapter Executive Board and united efforts of Dance, Music, and Event Committees, took place on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 7: 30 pm.
The event started with both anthems of Kuwait and the Republic of Armenia performed by the choir of Parsegh Ganachian College. The event conductor Maida Movsesian delivered the opening speech and stressed the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society’s obvious role in preserving the Armenian culture. In her speech, she stated that ″to prevent the risk of assimilation, to preserve the inherent properties of the Armenian nation, to keep them pure and immortal, the Armenian people should hold to their majestic and unique cultural treasures, including Armenian songs and dances.″
Then, Chair of the first Executive Board of Hamazkayin Kuwait Separate Chapter, Dr. Mesrop Taslakian delivered a speech in the name of the Board. He said,
"The Hamazkayin’s mission in the Kuwaiti desert and dry reality is to satisfy the Armenian community's cultural thirst through its song, music, dance, theater and other activity groups and committees managing them, along with other sport and charitable sister organizations existing in the community."
In the first part of the program, Parsegh Ganachian Choir performed a beautiful bunch of immortal folk songs. They performed the songs Im Chinari Yar, Maral, Maral, Jaghatss Patik, Lyrical Duet, Hamayak Jan, Ganachian’s Lullaby, Hoy Nazan, Sareru Hovin Mernem, Hoy Im Nazani Yary, Kilikia, My Dream Country and Sardarapat, conducted by George Arapatlian, and accompanied on piano and violin by Haykuhi Bazeyan and Tamar Temamian.
The second part of the program included very impressive dances and songs. Shake dance group performed Berd Par, instructed by native talented and distinguished choreographer Garik Khachikian. Then, Kuwaiti young Armenians Gevorg Temamian and Hagop Tadoyan duet performed the song Go your Way, River. Lusik Kahkechian sweetly performed the song Anoushig Im Kuyrig. Then, the girls of Shake dance group gracefully performed the dance Dreams. Hagop Tadoyan and Rostom Sarkissian presented the songs Other Eyes and Chaise, followed by Shake dance group’s charming folk dances.
After the folk dances, Kevork Temamian performed the song Old Chaise, and the duet Lucy Kahkechian and Rostom Sarkissian performed the song O Beautiful.
The Dance of Unity by all participants of the program closed the impressive event, and the collective beautiful performance reminded the audience the immortal commandment of Charents addressed to worldwide Armenians, "Armenian people, your only salvation is in your collective force."
At the end, Very Rev. Fr. Masis Zobouyan, Prelate of Kuwait and surroundings, made a speech praising the cultural work of Hamazkayin members and encouraged the community members to stand for the main factors of our nation’s survival - the religious and educational institutions, as well as for our rich culture inherited from our ancestors.
The Separate Chapter of Hamazkayin Kuwait, with its cultural groups, promised the audience to continue organizing other cultural events in the nearest future and received stormy ovation as appreciation from the audience, which left the hall satisfied.