About the Choreographer

Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian
Artistic Director & Choreographer Of The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble

The following was published in the Armenian Reporter as a "thank you" from members of the Shushi Dance Ensemble to Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian.

Members of the Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble and their parents would like to congratulate Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian on all her hard work and dedication to our ensemble. We are so proud of all your distinguished accomplishments and of the remarkable performance on october 15th, 2006. Your diligent work to instill the Armenian spirit in the hearts and souls of the dancers is greatly appreciated by every single one of us. We are all very proud and pleased to be a part of this incredible ensemble and wish you many more years of success with this group.

- Armenian Reporter 10/28/2006

Dance has been an integral part of Seta Kantardjian's life since the age of five. By the age of seven, she had already performed on Lebanese television. Seta's first experience teaching dance came at the age of ten when she instructed her classmates in cultural dancing. By the age of twelve, she had become so proficient that she began teaching dance to the AGBU students in the suburbs of Beirut. The resulting group won first place in a local dance competition. Later that same year, Seta participated in the Lebanese Baalbeck Festival and was featured in the major role of the young Sabah.

Seta continued her dance career winning first prize in all AGBU and Tekeyan Cultural Association dance competitions. In addition, she continued teaching dance in Armenian as well as non-Armenian schools.

Under her leadership the BESG high School won first prize at American University of Beirut's Folk Dance Competition in 1970.

Inspired by her brother Sarkis Paskalian, Seta continued dancing after immigrating to the United States. She became a soloist and dance assistant to AGBU's Antranig Dance Ensemble. She also taught dance in various Saturday Armenian Schools in the Metropolitan New York area.

Seta has been involved in every aspect of the group's performances since the ensemble's formation in 1992.

Despite her busy life, Seta always makes time to continue inspiring young Armenians in the thing she loves most - Dance. Continual support from her husband Zareh, and her son Ara, help her achieve her goals.