“Dance Without Borders” International Festival Held in Meghri

On August 28–29, the “Dance Without Borders” International Festival was held in Meghri, the CIS Cultural Capital of 2026, bringing together national dance ensembles from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus.

The festival was initiated and financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and organized by the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts, with the support of the Meghri Municipality, Meghri Sports and Cultural Center, and the Interstate Foundation for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States.

The festival’s opening ceremony took place at the Meghri Sports and Cultural Center. The participating ensembles presented traditional dances representing the national cultures of their respective countries.

Welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony were delivered by Khachatur Andreasian, Head of the Meghri Community; Lusine Toroyan, Director of the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts; Kamol Rakhmonov, Adviser to the Interstate Foundation for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States; and Ani Ghazaryan, Director of the Meghri Sports and Cultural Center.

The concert program on the second day of the festival was held outdoors in Meghri’s Pokhr Tagh district. Over the two-day event, the performances reflected the rich diversity of the participating peoples’ national cultures, with each ensemble showcasing the distinctive style, movement vocabulary, music, and colorful traditional costumes characteristic of its country’s dance heritage.

Alongside the concerts, the festival organized an exhibition and sale of locally produced goods from Meghri. The festival program also included traditional dance classes, national games, and master classes in folk crafts.

Guests and participants of the festival also had the opportunity to explore Meghri’s historical and cultural environment, local traditions, and the community’s cultural life.

The “Dance Without Borders” International Festival was held as part of the “Meghri — CIS Cultural Capital of 2026” program. Through the art of traditional dance, the festival aimed to promote mutual understanding among different peoples and cultures, strengthen cultural ties, and contribute to the preservation and promotion of national traditions.