The ensemble was established on October 15, 1958, by the initiative of Georgy Asaturyan, ballet master Edward Manukyan, and composer Khachatur Avetisyan, with the aim of preserving the centuries-old heritage and traditions of national dance and  by enriching it passing them on to the next generations. Initially, a competition was announced, resulting in the selection of 16 boys, 14 girls, and 8 musicians. Ballet masters Ilya Arbatov (Yaghubyan) and Vardges Rashidyan also made invaluable contributions to the creation of the ensemble’s first concert program. “Dances of Sassoon,” “Berd,” “Sabre Dance,” “Shoror,” “Zangezur,” “Caucasian Dance,” and other dances were staged with original interpretations, preserving the traditions of Armenian folk dances. In 1959, a year after its creation, the ensemble began touring. They started in Soviet countries and then traveled to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel, Iran, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Hungary, and beyond.

In 1966, Edward Manukyan was succeeded by Azat Gharibyan, an honored artist of Armenia, who staged several dances in the ensemble over two years, including “Trekhs”, “Parmani”, “Dance of Iliks”,  “Tradition”, and others.

In 1968, the People’s Artist of Armenia, Vanush Khanamiryan, was appointed the artistic director and chief ballet master of the ensemble. During his tenure, the ensemble staged around 120 dance numbers, many of which have remained in the ensemble’s repertoire for years. Among these are “Dance of Kintos,” “Shepherd’s Dance,” “Sardarapat,” “Enzeli” by A. Spendiarayan, “Sabre Dance,” “Uzundara,” “Lezginka” by A. Khachaturyan, “Caravan” by A. Harutyunyan, “Poppies” by Kh. Avetisyan, “Vagharshapat” by Komitas, and the “Sassoon” series of ethnographic dances.

Under his leadership, the ensemble participated four times in Moscow congresses and five times in “Erebuni-Yerevan” celebrations. In 1971, the ensemble’s tours in Latin American countries were significant, including Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela. They also performed in Canada and several European countries: Denmark, France, Belgium, England, Switzerland, and others. In 1974, the ensemble toured several cities across eleven states in the USA.

Talented artists who danced in the ensemble include Rashid Karapetyan, Zemfira Yeritsyan, Minas Khachatryan, Aida Harutyunyan, Harutyun Karapetyan, Levon Gasoyan, Albert Kiziryan, Jasmena Avetisyan, Karine Ghazaryan, Sofi Devoyan, Serzh Potoyan, Suren Chanchuryan, Norayr Mehrabyan, Gagik Karapetyan, Srbuhi Babayan, Vyacheslav Angurov, Petros Gharibyan, and others.

From 1992 to 1993, the ensemble was led by Albert Kiziryan, the Honored Artist of Armenia, and from 1993 to 2005, it was led by Suren Chanchuryan, the Honored Artist of Armenia.

From 1995 to 1998, the leading dancer Gagik Karapetyan served as the chief ballet master of the ensemble, and from 2005 to 2007, he was the artistic director. During his leadership, the ensemble staged “Awakening,” “Motherhood,” “Artsakhi,” “Ishkhanapar,” “Nino,” “Shepherds,” the “Ethnographic Dance Series,” “Lezginka,” “Kochari,” “Urmians,” “Battle Dance,” “Birth of Vahagn,” and other dance numbers.

Asatur Karapetyan was the chief ballet master of the ensemble from 2007-23. In 1976, the ensemble became a laureate of the Armenian State Award, and in 1978, it was awarded the title of “Honored Collective ofthe Republic of Armenia”.

In 2022, the ensemble was included in the National Center for Folk Music and Dance. Asatur Kalashyan was the chief ballet master of the ensemble from 2023 to 2024. Since 1999, the musical direction of the ensemble has been overseen by Hayk Grigoryan, a composer and Honored Figure of Armenian Culture. In 2024, Gagik Karapetyan, also an Honored Figure of Armenian Culture, was appointed chief ballet master of the ensemble.