ON YEREVAN STAGES …

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ON YEREVAN STAGES …

July 18 Sundukyan Academic Theatre, New performance Cuni “Night feast”, directed by Vahe Shahverdyan. Ticket cost 600-2000 AMD

July 22 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall, Concert of Vahan Artsruni with String Quartet and Shoghakat Children Choir. Ticket cost 1000-3000 AMD

July 25 National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Performance of Song and Dance Honored Ensemble named after Tatul Altunyan. Artistic Director Jirayr Altunyan . Ticket cost 1000-5000 AMD

July 22, 23 in Cascade and Astral Night Club, British Council in Armenia presented concert of Hip Hop and Jazz musician Soweto Kinch.

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ARKA BALLET INVITED TO ARMENIA

ARKA BALLET WILL PERFORM AT NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE AUGUST 6 & 7

ARKA Ballet is the first professional American ballet company officially invited to perform in Armenia. The Armenian State Philaharmonic has invited the Washington, DC-based troupe to appear at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Yerevan on August 6 and 7, 2004. The company of 16 will present two programs of mixed repertoire featuring works by contemporary American choreographers as well as recent works by Artistic Director Roudolf Kharatian.

The Philharmonic, which is the successor to Armenia’s Armconcert, will host the company for a one-week stay in Armenia, covering expenses in Armenia for the touring company, including lodging, meals, in-country transportation, rehearsal space and all performance-related PR and marketing. The tentative schedule even includes a little sightseeing! ARKA Ballet is now frantically working on air travel arrangements for which it has launched an aggressive PR campaign. Upcoming events to watch for include a pre-trip ‘preview gala’ at the American Dance Institute on June 12, as well as an art exhibit May 21 to June 21, 2004.

ARKA Ballet was founded by Roudolf Kharatian and launched at the Kennedy Center in 1999. Since then, the company has performed at many venues throughout the Washington, DC area including the Kennedy Center, the Lisner Auditorium, and the Kay Theatre. In 2001, ARKA Ballet was commissioned by the Diocese of the Armenian Church to create two ballets based on key moments in Armenia’s Christian history. The two works, Vartanank, to the music of Edgar Hovanessian, and St. Gregory’s Prayer, to the music of Alan Hovaness, were premiered in New York during the 1700th Anniversary Celebrations in Central Park.

ARKA Ballet features young, dynamic, classically-trained professional dancers. The company’s repertoire includes many of the classical favorites as well as more contemporary works. ARKA Ballet also serves as a vehicle to educate US audiences about Armenia and its rich culture, by presenting works that use Armenian history, legends or music as their basis.

The tour to Armenia has been a long-time dream for the company and marks the troupe’s first-ever tour abroad. It also opens the door for ongoing cultural exchange and dialogue between the American and Armenian dance communities, helping to strengthen the ties between these two nations. Upon its return to the US, ARKA Ballet plans to broadly publicize its Armenia tour through performances in a variety of venues, using the trip as an added opportunity to showcase Armenian themes. Plans for 2005 include the development of a new ballet commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre has invited ARKA Ballet’s Artistic Director Roudolf Kharatian to create a new full-length ballet based on St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations. The ballet will premiere in Armenia in 2006.

ARKA Ballet dancers are excited at the prospect of experiencing Armenia first hand after hearing so much about the nation from Kharatian, whom they fondly refer to as “Mr. K.” Many have also expressed the desire to stay on for a few days following the performances in order to take in more of the sites and have a chance to immerse themselves in the country, albeit for a short while.

For more information about ARKA Ballet and its planned tour to Armenia, please contact Tania Chichmanian at 301-587-6225 or tjc@arkaballet.org; or visit http://www.arkaballet.org. ARKA Ballet is dedicated to the continued development of the artform of ballet.