Lernazang
Western Armenian regional dialect, music, and dance traditions
Lernazang is a nonprofit organization, cultural collective, and performance ensemble whose mission is to decolonize Armenian dance and music aesthetics and to strengthen Armenian cultural heritage in the diaspora. Founded in 2017, Lernazang provides weekly community dance classes to youth and adults, offers dance and music workshops, and performs throughout LA in the traditional Armenian azgagrakan style. Lernazang’s approach merges critical academic inquiry and ethnographic research with intergenerational transmission in order to encourage more a socially-conscious and resilient Armenian community in diaspora and to contribute to the rich cultural landscape of Los Angeles.
Below, watch Lernazang’s performance of a love song and women’s work song from the Vaspurakan region of historic Armenia. Visit their Instagram here.
Living Cultures Grant Program
2024
Musa Ler Armenian Ethnographic Research & Music Project
Funds will support a music video of the Armenian folk song “Hele hele” performed in its endangered Musa Ler dialect and native regional style. Funding will support 1) conducting ethnographic research among descendants of Musa Ler genocide survivors in LA to inform our performance 2) music recording, videography, and post-production costs.
