The 75-year-old Houssaper Cultural Association will celebrate its foundation in Egypt on 29 November with a concert and folk dance performance at the main hall of the New Generation International School in Obour City. In the cultural programme's first part, Sardarabad Folk Dance Troupe will perform Armenian dances choreographed by the Cairo Opera House's Ballet Theatre classical dancer Mariam Garabedyan. Armenia's renowned singer Vartan Badalyan will take the stage during the second part of the programme, performing live. The association was founded in June 1944 on the hospitable shores of the everlasting Nile. Since its foundation, Houssaper Cultural Association has believed in the divine mission of keeping the Armenian heritage alive in the diaspora, passing on this sacred heritage from one generation to the other. The association also manages the Houssaper theatre and building, founded in 1952 in Boulaq and the Houssaper Armenian Club in Heliopolis, founded in 1962. The Boulaq premises also hosts the association's newspaper founded in 1913, as well as a library. In the past, the Houssaper house received Egyptian officials and intellectuals, including presidents Mohamed Naguib, Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Anwar El-Sadat. The cultural evening will be held under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Ashod Mnatsaganian, primate of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese in Egypt. The programme starts at 8pm and admission is free. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
