Kochari
The War Dance of Forefathers
For over two thousand years, Kochari has echoed through the Armenian Highlands. Originally a war dance performed by men before battle, its sharp, synchronized movements were designed to strike fear into the hearts of enemies and forge an unbreakable bond between brothers-in-arms.
The name itself is rooted in the movement of the Aries—the ram. By mimicking the ram’s power and its head-to-head resilience, our ancestors believed they could channel an indomitable spirit that no empire could conquer.
The Infinite Circle
In Armenian culture, the circle is the symbol of Eternity (Arevakhach). When dancers lock shoulders and move as one, they are not just performing; they are forming a human fortress.
Hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, Kochari represents the continuity of memory. Despite centuries of struggle, the chain of transmission has never been broken. In 2017, UNESCO officially recognized Kochari as a masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage, cementing its place as a gift from Armenia to the world.