Berd: The Armenian National Dance

Berd (Armenian: Բերդ — "Fortress") is an Armenian national dance. It is one of the most famous and beloved dances of Armenians around the world. This dance was very often used to raise the fighting spirit of soldiers before an upcoming battle or war. To this day, the dance remains popular in the Armenian army and the Artsakh Defense Army. It is danced at national holidays and other events. The dance's roots go back to one of the historical regions of Armenia — Vaspurakan — where it originated as a folk game called "Gmbetakhagh" (a game with domes or towers).