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| ARKA BALLET WOWS AUDIENCE IN KENNEDY CENTER DEBUT |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 1999 Contact: Tania Chichmanian (301) 587-6225 Washington, DC — "Tonight we are making history as we witness the birth of ARKA Ballet". Thus did Inaugural Gala Chairman Annie Totah greet audience members at ARKA Ballet’s Inaugural Gala Performance, April 3. The event had originally been scheduled for January 15, but was cancelled due to an ice storm and widespread power outages. Instead, the capacity audience gathered at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater on a beautiful spring evening to celebrate the launch of Washington DC’s newest professional ballet company. Ms. Totah welcomed special guests, including Ambassador and Mrs. Rouben Shugarian, Cultural Counselor of the Russian Embassy Natalia Batova, and legendary ballerinas Alla Sizova of the Kirov Ballet and Nadezhda Pavlova of the Bolshoi Ballet. Ms. Totah went on to thank friends and supporters for their belief in ARKA and explained, "We believe that through the Arts and particularly through dance, we can touch people’s hearts and souls by bringing them Beauty, Goodness, Truth and Love. ARKA Ballet will help spread the wings of dance, as well as Armenian culture, to new horizons." The evening featured an exciting cast of international dance talent who joined ARKA Ballet Washington-based regulars for the premiere. Artists included Artistic Director Roudolf Kharatian’s son Hagop (currently with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal), daughter Sona (with Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando) and nephew Edgar Vardanian (with Carolina Ballet in Raleigh-Durham). The Gala program featured a diverse mix of classical pas de deux and contemporary works, including a world premiere "It Sounds like…." by choreographer Lorraine Spiegler, two humorous solo pieces by Belgian choreographer Ben Van Cauwenberg to songs by Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, a modern work "L’Ange" by French choreographer Claude Brumachon, and a number of pieces by ARKA founder Kharatian. A highlight of the program was Kharatian’s riveting duet "Dialogue" to music of Purcell, exquisitely performed by Hagop Kharatian and Jeanette Hanley, also of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. "Prayer", to Armenian duduk, was movingly danced by Sona Kharatian. Another duet, "Narayama", performed by Cherilyn Lee and Edgar Vardanian, mesmerized the audience with its beautiful Japanese music and meditative atmosphere. The evening began with the glittering pas de deux from Nutcracker featuring Jeanette Hanley and Sascha Radetsky of American Ballet Theater (ABT). Le Corsaire paired Hagop Kharatian with Varna Gold Medalist Michele Wiles (currently with ABT). The audience was also treated to a dazzling variation from Gayane performed by Varna Gold Medalist Shingo Yoshimoto of Japan. The finale was the crowd-pleasing pas de deux from Don Quixotte, wonderfully performed by Paris Gold Medalist Daniela Severian and Grant Scruggs. The two, who are currently with the Staatstheater Wiesbaden in Germany, delighted the audience with their dynamic and charming performance. The applause was deafening as all eighteen artists gathered on stage for a collective bow. As Artistic Director Kharatian joined the company, the audience stood as one in a thunderous standing ovation, a fitting tribute to his vision and talent, which made such an exciting evening possible. The celebrations continued with a post-performance reception at the Embassy of Armenia, where Gala Patrons, Supporters and Friends met the artists and congratulated organizers. In his remarks, Ambassador Shugarian noted with obvious pride the excellence of what all had just experienced and underscored the importance of such international caliber programs serving as vehicles to educate the world about Armenia and its people. Annie Totah thanked Gala organizers and volunteers and again highlighted ARKA’s goals of bringing high-level dance to broad and diverse audiences; and presenting Armenian art, culture, literature, music and history to audiences through the international language of dance. ARKA Ballet’s immediate plans include summer and fall performances in the Washington DC area. Planning has also begun on a mammoth project, a new full-length ballet based on Krikor Naregatsi’s Book of Lamentations. Kharatian envisages taking the ballet on a world tour as part of the celebrations for the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. ARKA Ballet is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization whose mission is to nurture, develop and showcase international-level dance talent through inspiring and challenging choreography. ARKA Ballet is committed to the development of the art of ballet as a contemporary form of expression. For more information, call (301) 587-6225 or e-mail:Arkaballet@lycosmail.com |