Norayr Mehrabyan, People’s Artist of Armenia, recipient of the Movses Khorenatsi and Mesrop Mashtots medals, founder of Armenia’s State Dance Ensemble “Barekamutyun” and Honorary Citizen of Yerevan, has died at the age of 85.

The National Center of Folk Music and Dance announced his death, describing Mehrabyan’s passing as an “irreparable and profound loss.”

“The entire staff of the Center expresses its deepest condolences to the master’s family, relatives, colleagues, students, and all those who appreciated his art,” the statement reads.

Born in Yerevan in 1941, Norayr Mehrabyan studied at the Yerevan Choreographic School and later worked as a solo dancer at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. He also worked in Leningrad before returning to Yerevan, where he became artistic director of the Choreographic School.

He created numerous choreographic productions and, in 1987, founded the Barekamutyun State Dance Ensemble of Armenia. He also established dance groups in Armenian communities in Beirut, Cyprus, Aleppo and Los Angeles, and collaborated with the Hamazkayin “Ani” dance group and the “Yeraz” dance group in France.