"Journey of Discovery" Tour to Armenia a success! ARKA Ballet a hit
with Armenian audiences!
We're told that news of ARKA Ballet's success preceded its return to
the United States; we are pleased to confirm that these reports are not
exaggerated! ARKA Ballet was very warmly received and reviews stated
that the very sophisticated ballet-going audiences' high expectations
were more than satisfied. In fact, in its review, the newspaper Golos
Armenii ["the voice of Armenia" in Russian] stated quite bluntly: "ARKA
Ballet in Yerevan! They came, they saw, they conquered!" ARKA Ballet,
the first professional American ballet company invited to perform in
Armenia, presented two mixed repertoire programs at the National Opera
and Ballet Theatre in Yerevan on August 6 & 7.
The Opera, which seats
1,200, recently underwent a complete refurbishing and offered a
classically beautiful, yet state-of-the-art venue for ARKA Ballet's
performances. On both evenings, the capacity audiences showered ARKA
Ballet dancers with rarely-heard ovations.
The tour was truly a journey of discovery, as Armenian audiences heard
and read about developments in dance in the west and especially in the
United States, and got to experience a unique and varied program,
ranging from a 19th century romantic classic, 'La Vivandiere', to
contemporary works such as McIntyre's 'Blue Until June' and Kharatian's
more abstract 'A Room'.
Advanced ballet students were invited to take
class with the company, Kharatian led a master class, and ARKA Ballet
dancer Helen Marie Bunch taught a jazz class for students and dancers of
Nane Ballet. And after a long day of class and rehearsals, ARKA Ballet
members discovered Yerevan, with its bustling streets and markets, cafes
and bistros, monuments and museums, jazz clubs and theatres.
They also
discovered Armenia, a nation with a 5,000 year history, an 'open air
museum' whose varied landscape is dotted with ancient ruins, churches
and monasteries, temples and fortresses, and innumerable 'khachkars'
(stone-crosses). They were awestruck by the majesty of Mount Ararat, the
alpine tranquility of Tsaghgazsor, and the turquoise grandeur of Lake
Sevan. And most importantly, they daily experienced the hospitality and
warmth of the Armenian people.
The success and impact of ARKA Ballet's brief visit to Armenia is such
that the media continues to discuss and review its performances even
now, and a documentary film about the tour is in the works. As
Ambassador Arman Kirakossian of Armenia stated on June 12 during the
fundraising event at the American Dance Institute, "this is a very
important event because it is building a bridge between the United
States and Armenia, between the cultures, between the artists of both
countries."
Find out more about the tour
here.
ARKA BALLET PERFORMS IN ARMENIA