This folk dance originated in the Kars and Artvin provinces of what is now Turkey (border areas right across from present-day Armenia). The Kochari is not danced in these areas anymore, as the Armenians were driven out by the Turks in the aftermath of World War I.
Armenians began to dance the Kochari in the 19th century, when repression by the Ottoman Empire was particularly brutal. The dance is danced to a 2/4 rhythm. Dancers form a closed circle, putting their hands on each other's shoulders. This may symbolize the alienation that this minority community felt at the time of the dance's birth.
The dance is danced by both men and women and is intended to be intimidating. More modern forms of Kochari have added a "tremolo step," which involves shaking the whole body.
The dance migrated east after Armenians were driven out of Turkey. This movement is appropriate for its name, which in various Turkish languages signifies "nomad."
The dance remains popular in Armenia and is danced at official functions, according to Armenian newspaper "Asbarez."