Yarkhushta (Armenian: Յարխուշտա (modern orthography) or Եարխուշտայ (classical/traditional orthography), pronounced[jɑɾχuʃtɑ]) is an Armenian folk and martial dance[1] associated with the highlands of the historical region of Sasun in Western Armenia.[2][3][4] Yarkhushta belongs to a wider category of Armenian "clap dances" (ծափ-պարեր, tsap parer).[5] The dance is performed by men, who face each other in pairs. The key element of the dance is a forward movement when participants rapidly approach one another and vigorously clap onto the palms of hands of dancers in the opposite row.
Yarkhushta has traditionally been danced by Armenian soldiers before combat engagements, partly for ritualistic purposes, and partly in order to cast off fear and boost battle spirit for more effective hand-to-hand combat.[6]
Euphorigenic effect
The tune of the dance is played intentionally very loudly by two zurna or pku (Armenian: պկու) hornpipes and one or more double-headed bass drums, each struck with a mallet and a stick from opposite sides of the drum's cylinder.
It has been demonstrated that the combination of hornpipe's high-frequency tone and the bass drums' deep, low-frequency beat create a combination of sounds with wide peak-to-peak amplitude that is capable of placing the dancers in the state of euphoric trance. This factor amplifies the effect of adrenaline/epinephrine rush that the dancing of yarkhushta usually produces.[7]
The dance was popularized in the late 1930s by Srbuhi Lisitsian who taught at the Yerevan Dance College.[4] In 1957, the dance underwent further choreographic refinement by folk culture enthusiast Vahram Aristakesian and was performed by a folk dance troupe from the village of Ashnak.[8]
The dance was revived in the 1980s by the folk group Maratuk and, later, by the folk ensemble Karin. There are attempts to introduce yarkhushta into curriculum of dances and songs of the Armenian Army.
There are several poems and samples of visual art that touch on the theme of yarkhushta. Among them is the poem "Dance of Sassoun" («Սասունցիների պարը») by Gevorg Emin published in 1975.[9] Yarkhushta also features prominently in the films Men («Տղամարդիկ», 1972) and Yarkhushta (2004),[10] produced by Gagik Harutyunyan.[2]
^ ab"Երկու ֆիլմի պատմություն". Aravot (in Armenian). 10 November 2010. «Յարխուշտան» սասունցիների եւ մշեցիների մեջ տարածված ռազմական պարի անուն է: Գ. Հարությունյանի առաջին գեղարվեստական ֆիլմն է:
^Irina Petrosian. Armenian Food: Fact, Fiction & Folklore. 2006, p. 19
^Antranig Armenian Dance Ensemble - Reflections - 40th Anniversary Celebration & Performance - Souvenir Program, November 28, 2009. p. 46, Publisher: Alice Tully hall, Lincoln Center; First Edition (2009)
