Yerzenga/Erzindjan - Bardezu Mer (Tamzara dance)
02/09/22 (Last modified 02/09/22)
This section of our website aims to document and share performances of various traditional Armenian dances that have been preserved by Diasporan communities in the United States. To this end, Houshamadyan is partnering and collaborating with a group of Armenian dance experts who have produced appropriate dance notations for documentation. This group consists of Carolyn Rapkievian (of Bar Harbor, Maine), Susan and Gary Lind-Sinanian (of Watertown, Massachusetts), Tom Bozigian (of Los Angeles, California), and Robert Haroutunian (Sunyside, NY).
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The Tamzara is a dance in a distinctive 9/8 rhythm which was widespread across much of the Armenian Plateau. Villages and towns had their own local versions. Some experts hypothesize that the dance originated in the village of Tamzara in the northeast region of Sepasdia/Sivas. Some say the Tamzara is the “national dance” of Western Armenians.
“Bardezu Mer” (“Our Garden”) is a Tamzara from Yerzenga. Several different Yerzenga songs and dances used the 9/8 rhythm and were simply called “Yerzenga Tamzara” by outsiders, but these were considered distinct, separate dances in Yerzenga, with the steps tailored for each specific melody or song.
This Tamzara was preserved by the immigrants from Yerzenga who settled in Detroit, Michigan and in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley in California. Several of the traditional songs and dances of Yerzenga were recorded in the 1950s by the Gaidzog(Guy) Chookoorian for Lightning Records. His father Roupen Chookoorian played oud and violin and wrote and translated lyrics.
These and other dances were collected and taught by Francis Ajoian, who published a booklet of the dances “Armenian Bar Dances” in 1961, documenting twenty-three Armenian dances. Tom Bozigian learned this Tamzara from immigrants from Yerzenga who settled in Detroit, Michigan.
Source: Frances Ajoian, Tom Bozigian
Music: The distinctive 9/8 rhythm is 1-2,1-2,1-2,1-2-3. The Yerzenga Tamzara dance phrase is six measures. There is a unique 6-measure melody associated with this Tamzara.
One version of the lyrics is:
Bardezu mer vartu mer
Bardezu mer vartu mer
Khngadou dzareru mer
Khngadou dzareru mer
Anoushig toutoushig
Toun varti bes knkoushig
Yerzenga bardeznerov
Yerzenga bardeznerov
Shrchabadvadz sarerov
Shrchabadvadz sarerov
Anoushig toutoushig
Toun varti bes knkoushig
Mechu ounim siroun yar
Mechu ounim siroun yar
Gakhkartvadz eh im sirov
Gakhkartvadz eh im sirov
Anoushig toutoushig
Toun varti bes knkoushig
Formation: Line or open circle in “Armenian hold” (little fingers interlocked with hands held at chest height slightly forward). In this version, the leader is at the left, moving clockwise.
Style: Torso is erect. Steps are firm and brisk.
Measures | Counts | Movements |
1 | 1-2 | Step backward on right foot |
| 3-4 | Lift left foot slightly in front |
| 5-6 | Step on left heel to left as hands sway to left |
| 7-9 | Step behind on right foot containing to move to the left as hands return to center position |
2 | 1-2 | Step on left heel to left as hands sway to left |
| 3-4 | Step behind on right foot containing to move to the left as hands return to center position |
| 5-6 | Step on left heel to left as hands sway to left |
| 7-9 | Step behind on right foot containing to move to the left as hands return to center position |
3 | 1-2 | Step backward on left foot |
| 3-4 | Lift right foot slightly in front |
| 5-6 | Step to the right with the right foot as joined hands sway slightly to right |
| 7-9 | Crossing behind, step slightly to the right with the left foot as joined hands sway slightly to the left |
4 | 1-2 | With both feet together, right heel remains in place while toes tap to the diagonal right and joined hands move slightly to the right. Torso may turn slightly to right. Knees dip slightly on count 1 and straighten on count 2. |
| 3-4 | With right heel remaining on the floor, right foot returns to parallel position which toes tapping once in place. Torso returns to center. Knees dip slightly on count 3 and straighten on count 4. |
| 5-6 | Repeat (measure 4) counts 1-2 |
| 7-9 | Repeat (measure 4) counts 3-4 |
5 | 1-2 | Step forward on the right foot as hands swing down |
| 3-4 | Hop on the right foot |
| 5-6 | Step forward slightly on the left foot as hands swing back up |
| 7 | Stamp once with the right foot |
| 8-9 | Pause |
6 | 1-2 | Step backward on right foot as hands swing down |
| 3-4 | Lift left foot slightly in front |
| 5-6 | Step forward slightly on the left foot as hands swing back up |
| 7 | Stamp once with the right foot |
| 8-9 | Pause |
