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MIS-STEP: DANCE TROUPE LEFT WITHOUT REHEARSAL SPACE AHEAD OF IMPORTANT PERFORMANCES
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
12.10.12 | 16:25
The chief choreographer of Armenia's National Academic Theater of
Ballet and Opera is concerned that the Theater might temporarily be
left without its ballet troupe.
A renowned choreographer and a leading solo dancer Roudolf Kharatyan,
who in 2009 was invited to Armenia from the United States to lead
Armenia's national ballet troupe, told the press on Thursday that the
major repair of the opera building is leaving the troupe without
a place for rehearsals, and that, he said, might have serious
consequences.
"The repair and upgrade of the stage was needed and welcomed, but
nothing had been pre-planned. Starting tomorrow our troupe will leave
the building and will have this status until, as we have been told,
February. We have not been offered any alterative for a rehearsal
studio yet and we're in limbo. But a dancer is like an athlete and
has to keep training constantly," said Kharatyan, adding that the
troupe has a performance of "Giselle" ballet to perform in Italy in
April and then in the United States.
"They say we can start rehearsing in February. But how is it possible
to stage a performance in two months only, when it takes two decades
for dancers to start getting the feel of it ? This way we can never
present ourselves to the world as a ballet country, when through ballet
we are able to present the entire history of our nation," he says,
adding that this might lead to losing what's been achieved over the
past three years - dancers in good shape and full concert halls.
The troupe has 86 dancers aged between 18 and 41, with average salary
90,000 drams ($220) a month.
In 2012 the State Budget has allotted six million drams ($15,000)
for the repair.
Kamo Hovhannisyan, director of the Theatre, told ArmeniaNow that on
Monday the issue will be resolved.
"The repair works have been going for a few months now and will be
completed in January, however working at the Theater is not safe
anymore, because of the welding. On Monday it'll be clear where the
Theater staff and troupes can temporarily move to," he promised.
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
12.10.12 | 16:25
The chief choreographer of Armenia's National Academic Theater of
Ballet and Opera is concerned that the Theater might temporarily be
left without its ballet troupe.
A renowned choreographer and a leading solo dancer Roudolf Kharatyan,
who in 2009 was invited to Armenia from the United States to lead
Armenia's national ballet troupe, told the press on Thursday that the
major repair of the opera building is leaving the troupe without
a place for rehearsals, and that, he said, might have serious
consequences.
"The repair and upgrade of the stage was needed and welcomed, but
nothing had been pre-planned. Starting tomorrow our troupe will leave
the building and will have this status until, as we have been told,
February. We have not been offered any alterative for a rehearsal
studio yet and we're in limbo. But a dancer is like an athlete and
has to keep training constantly," said Kharatyan, adding that the
troupe has a performance of "Giselle" ballet to perform in Italy in
April and then in the United States.
"They say we can start rehearsing in February. But how is it possible
to stage a performance in two months only, when it takes two decades
for dancers to start getting the feel of it ? This way we can never
present ourselves to the world as a ballet country, when through ballet
we are able to present the entire history of our nation," he says,
adding that this might lead to losing what's been achieved over the
past three years - dancers in good shape and full concert halls.
The troupe has 86 dancers aged between 18 and 41, with average salary
90,000 drams ($220) a month.
In 2012 the State Budget has allotted six million drams ($15,000)
for the repair.
Kamo Hovhannisyan, director of the Theatre, told ArmeniaNow that on
Monday the issue will be resolved.
"The repair works have been going for a few months now and will be
completed in January, however working at the Theater is not safe
anymore, because of the welding. On Monday it'll be clear where the
Theater staff and troupes can temporarily move to," he promised.