Category: 2017

Culture: Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre Presents BEST OF KHACHATURIAN

Nahapetian Samvel
Noho Arts District

Aug 15 2017


Written by Lisa 

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents BEST OF KHACHATURIAN at the Alex Theatre on Sunday, September 17, 2017.

The Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, under the direction of Natasha Middleton and Ruben Tonoian, will present “The Best of Khachaturian” on Sunday, September 17, 2017 at the beautiful Alex Theatre. The afternoon will include selections from such famous ballets as “Spartacus,” “Gayane,” “Masquerade” and a new ballet by Natalie Middleton, “Remember” dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide.

 

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents BEST OF KHACHATURIAN  “Spartacus”


“This show is dedicated to the Armenian Genocide,”says co-artistic director Natasha Middleton. “We chose Aram Khachaturian because he is Armenia’s preeminent composer. His ballets “Gayane,” “Masquerade” and “Spartacus” are the most famous. Our principle ballerina for “Masquerade,” Alina Bormotova (North Hollywood local) originally danced with the Moscow Festival Ballet and the Russian National Ballet. She will be dancing with Grigori Arakelyan, principle dancer from the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia and Alexander Fost, finalist in “So You Think You Can Dance.” “Spartacus” will be danced by Inga Demetryan and Eduard Sargsyan also both from the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia. “Gayane” will be performed by principle dancers Elen Harutyunyan (another North Hollywood local) from San Francisco Ballet and National Ballet of Armenia and Edgar Nikolyan of the Staats Opera Ballet in Vienna, Austria.”

Sunday, September 17, 2017 – 5PM

The Alex Theatre
216 No. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203

alextheatre.org | 818-243-2539

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents BEST OF KHACHATURIAN  “Gayne” 

Aram Khachaturian was born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia. He moved to Moscow in 1921 after the Sovietization of Georgia and enrolled in the Gnessin Musical Institute, and Moscow Conservatory. His most famous works include the Masquerade Suite (1941), the Anthem of the Armenian SSR (1944), three symphonies (1935, 1943, 1947), and around 25 film scores. Khachaturian is best known for his ballet music—Gayane (1942) and Spartacus (1954). His most popular piece is the “Sabre Dance” from Gayan and has been covered by many musicians around the world. 

Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, originally named Media City Ballet, announced its formation on September 30th of 2001. Over the past decade, the company has gained a notable following and has grown to become one of the major dance companies within the greater Los Angeles area. Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre attracts first-class talent from around the world, including Armenia, Asia, Russia, Mexico and Spain. Company dancers possess credentials of study and performance from such companies as Armenian National Opera Ballet, the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, the Kirov Opera and Ballet Company, the Korean National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Cirque du Soleil. Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre boasts a large, varied repertoire and produces several major programs annually. Educational outreach programs and performances to enrich our sponsored youth ballet.

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ANKARA: Armenian church in Istanbul hit by storm awaits permission to get repaired

David Nargizian
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey

Aug 16 2017

Ahu Özyurt – ISTANBUL

    Kuzguncuk was a multicultural neighborhood in Istanbul’s Üsküdar up until the 1960s. The alleys are still full of old Rum houses and are home to two big Armenian churches, a GreekOrthodox church and several Jewish synagogues spread around the quarter. But the Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church, on the main street by the Bosphorus, is having a hard time these days.

    A touchstone in Kuzguncuk, the church dates back to 1835. But because of complaints filed to the Directorate General of Foundations it faces difficulty undergoing maintenance for its broken windows, caused by last month’s storm. The church’s main dome has an arch that was covered with small window panes. The hail and storm in Istanbul last month broke several glass windows and destroyed parts of the roof. Yet the church could not get the permission to repair them. Every time Turkish-Armenians living in the area want to repair the church or paint the exterior, they have to fight against complaints from the neighborhood.

    “We have had several raids for inspection for no reason. Somebody complained that we were giving an unlawful religious feast right before Easter, which was under the supervision of priests. The Üsküdar Municipality has a right to hold iftars but we get punished if we serve food under our religious rules. The Directorate General of Foundations knocks on our door every time somebody complains for no reason. We hope they could help us repair our church,” one church source told the Hürriyet Daily News. He showed the HDN one aisle of the church could not be used because of the risk of broken glasses falling from the ceiling.

    The Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church is also running short of clergymen. “We have the right to have two weekly sermons,” a community leader told the HDN, “but unfortunately there are very few priests left because they go to Bakırköy or the Prince Islands for Sunday prayers. Here we cannot even open our doors for Sunday prayers.”

    The church is located on the main seaside road between Üsküdar and Beylerbeyi, and is famous for sharing its wall with the neighboring Kuzguncuk mosque.

    August/16/2017


    ANKARA: Turkey’s Catholic Armenian community celebrates landmark mass DAILY SABAH

    Bedik Zaminian
    Daily Sabah, Turkey

    Aug 16 2017
    DAILY SABAH
    ISTANBUL

    Turkey’s Catholic Armenian community held a religious service on Monday in the western city of İzmir’s St. John Cathedral Basilica.

    The Mass bears importance for the community as it is the first time they were able to pray in the historic church in 95 years.

    The 19th-century basilica, heavily damaged in the Great İzmir Fire in 1922, was handed over to the use of NATO troops based in the city in the 1960s and was left unused for decades before its restoration in 2013.

    Rev. Vartan Kazancıyan from an Istanbul Armenian church presided over the religious service attended by some 150 people.

    The basilica was among the properties returned to ethnic and religious minorities after decades of discriminatory state policies toward those minorities.

    BAKU: Expert says Karabakh conflict settlement is only way-out for recovery of Armenian economy

    Chmshkian Vicken
    AzerNews, Azerbaijan

    Aug 15 2017
    17:24 (UTC+04:00)

    By Rashid Shirinov

    Following the the new wave of Western sanctions against Russia, Armenians have once again raised the issue of country’s possible exit from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to preserve the remains of Armenia’s collapsed economy. Armenian MPs and experts keep noting the need of leaving the Russia-led structures.

    In 2015, Armenia became the fourth full-fledged Member-State of the Eurasian Economic Union together with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. ​ For most Armenians, this meant only more economic pain as the country needed to adjust tariffs and trade rules.

    The well-known Ukrainian expert and economist, Alexander Okhrimenko, commenting on the issue, ruled out the possibility of Armenia’s exit from the Russian integration structures.

    “For now, the exit of Armenia from the EAEU or from any other Russian structure can be considered only hypothetically,” Okhrimenko said. “Anti-Russian sanctions of the West cannot but affect the economy of Armenia, they have connection; all the economic control levers of Armenia are in hands of Moscow.”

    Moreover, the West is not interested in Armenia. Neither Europe nor the United States are interested in the problems of Armenia, in the country’s dilapidated economy, according to him.

    “Integration into the European community is a dream for Armenia. Armenian politicians should address the pressing problems, and not cheat poor Armenians with meaningless illusions about European integration,” Okhrimenko noted.

    The expert pointed out that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the only reasonable step for the recovery of the Armenian economy and the wayout for the country’s political isolation.

    “The reason for the troubles in which this country remains for many years is the obstinacy of the Armenian leadership, which impedes by any means the negotiation process,” he said.

    Azerbaijan has long ago stated it is ready to settle the conflict through negotiations with Armenia with mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. However, the Armenian side is constantly trying to make up reasons to avoid a constructive dialogue and preserve the unacceptable status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh.

    Okhrimenko noted that as long as the authorities of Armenia delay substantive negotiations with Azerbaijan and try to keep the status quo indefinitely, the problems of this country will only increase.

    The Armenian society has long been speaking about distressing unemployment, endless outflow of people from the country, and many other problems. As a result, Armenia lost thousands of people, and very soon the country may turn into a state of elders and the disabled.

    “The negligence of the authorities to the situation in their own country and to their citizens became the reason of serious problems,” Okhrimenko said. “The problems are not solved, but instead accumulated like a snowball, and this is being reflected in the welfare of the general population.”