Armenia's beautiful folk costumes overview with pictures

I begin my series about countries with....

ARMENIA

Since I haven't studied this country extensively, I will simply share with you an overview of Armenia's folk costumes, which are incredibly beautiful. I know you will love them! Of all the countries I will share about, these costumes are the most pleasing to the Western world's idea of elegant clothing!

Picture by Mazzou's Photography
Duquesne University Tamburitzans performing the Armenian dance of princesses

Most of our introduction to folk costumes has come from the amazing group
 The Duquesne University Tamburitzans...however we also love perusing other books, folk dance videos and websites. How exciting it is to find other resources about one particularly favorite costume, such as the Armenian princess dress above and below!

We love vintage postcards like the above!
And see how alike it is to the rendition presented in the first picture by the 'Tamburitzans'!

Next: an example of Armenian women's dances....elegant, graceful, beautiful.

Another Armenian princess dance. Source: Wikipedia

Armenian Princess dance by Duquesne University Tamburitzans
Photo by my sister; Mazzou's Photography

We also love the pure white costumes....what a treasure to discover these! One would have thought only English Medieval princesses wore them! But these renditions from ancient Armenia are just as beautiful:

3 Duquesne University Tamburitzans performing Armenian dance

Duquesne University Tamburitzans again. In contrast to the women's dances, the men's are athletic, powerful and warlike!

A contrast to the last costumes I shared with you! These brilliant costumes are also from Armenia.

Graceful, elegant, rich

Armenian stamps featuring on the right the blue and red princess dress which you also see below.

Picture taken by Duquesne University Tamburitzans for their own promotional purposes. Humorously, all three young ladies performing the dance are of Ukrainian background. The Tamburitzans group also has had a few performers of Armenian ethnic background.

The men's shepherd dance: athletic, energetic, amazing!

Photo by Mazzou's Photography
We were privileged to watch awestruck as the men performed with agility and strength all manner of acrobatics! We especially love the jumps in which the men land on their knees and end in a spin....as well as the parts when the men dance on the knuckles of their feet!

A small example of this type of dancing can be seen below: (a different group is performing)

Armenian beauty: an example of what Armenian's look like! She, Liana Hovhanessian is also a young performer in the group The Duquesne University Tamburitzans

Costumes separated into regions of Armenia

More Armenian folk dance costumes

Before I end, here is a DVD which we have enjoyed! Old color filming, but full of gems of dances and songs!
Armenian Cultural Collection: Armenia in Dance

And lastly, here is an interesting....Article about Caucasus region costumes on a blog I really enjoy and have learned from costume-wise!