ArmInfo. In 2022, the Kharatian Experiential Center for the Perfoming Arts will be opened in Gyumri. This was announced on March 25 during the event timed to the launch of the program implemented in Armenia by the Ballet 2021 Foundation with the grant support of the EU in the amount of 11 million euros.
The project's initiator and artistic director is choreographer and People's Artist of Armenia Rudolf Kharatyan. The architect of the center will be Azat Shishmanyan from Canada. The place for the implementation of the program will be the former building of the Gyumri culture center, located next to the railway station of the city, whose walls survived after the earthquake. As planned by the architect, it is envisaged to preserve areas of historical and cultural importance, in particular, the mosaic <Sasuntsev Dance>, created by eminent artist Ferdinand Manukyan. The building of the center, according to Shishmanyan, will be a combination of the old and the modern. In an interview with ArmInfo, Rudolf Kharatyan noted that the idea of creating such a center originated from the choreographer a long time ago.
Having moved 10 years ago to Armenia, he brought with him about 30 old and new ideas. "But, it seemed to me, Armenia was not ready for such a pace, thinking, responsibility and discipline that is required for daily work. And Gyumri turned out to be ready,> he said. The artist said that after conducting master classes in Gyumri, I realized that there is significant potential in this city that has not been realized. "Thanks to Gyumri, we will be able to bring peace to Armenia, and thanks to the potential of this city to go out into the world," he stressed.According to Kharatyan, about 120 children will be able to study at the center. In addition, the project initiators intend to teach children for free. <We want everyone to have the opportunity to grow. But, of course, the most capable will go forward. In particular, until 2027 we envisage that we will have a ballet group that will be able to share our ideas with the world, including touring, "he explained.
Kharatyan emphasized the importance of maintaining relations with the outside world. In this vein, he noted that friends "in the workshop" are already eagerly awaiting the opening of a center in Gyumri, in order to send their pupils to study here, and also expect students from the Gyumri center abroad.An important component of the center, according to Kharatyan, will be a research center, whose object of study will be the archetype of the Armenian people. <We need to know how we differ, what our emotional background is, how we can be of interest to the world. However, I am sure that as we need peace, the world also needs us, "said the artist.In an interview with ArmInfo, the Executive Director of the program, Lilit Petrosyan, noted that in the center, in addition to the ballet class for children, there will be education and training for choreographers. In addition, in collaboration with the NGO "Emily Aregak", special classes are provided for children with limited abilities. Also, everyone can visit the center, including tourists and learn choreography, including the basics of ballet and yoga.Note that Rudolf Kharatyan is an honored Soviet and Armenian dancer and choreographer.
He graduated from choreographic schools of Yerevan and Leningrad, the director's department of GITIS. He created the Chamber Ballet of Armenia, where he staged innovative performances. From 1986 he worked with the classical ballet troupe of Canada, then he was art director of the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington (1992-2006). He taught at the Yerevan Choreography School. In 2009-2014 - Chief Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Yerevan Spendiaryan Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR (1974) and People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia (2012).