Roudolf Kharatian to lead National Ballet of Armenia

Published: Wednesday September 16, 2009

Roudolf Kharatian. German Avakian

Washington - Roudolf Kharatian, choreographer and ballet teacher, is returning to his native Armenia, where he has been appointed artistic director of the National Ballet of Armenia. Since 1991, when he was invited to join the faculty of the Kirov Academy of Ballet, he has resided in Washington.

Trained at the Armenian National Ballet School in Yerevan, Kharatian also studied at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg under the legendary Alexander Pushkin. He began his professional career as principal dancer with the National Ballet of Armenia, performing the great male roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus and other famous works. Kharatian enjoyed a very successful performing career spanning 25 years and was adored by audiences and critics alike. He also starred in films and toured the world with Stars of Soviet Ballet.

A prolific choreographer, in 1979 he founded the Chamber Ballet of Armenia, which presented contemporary works and allowed for greater experimentation and innovation. The company of 26 dancers was televised regularly and also toured widely throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Kharatian has been honored with many awards and medals in his career as dancer, choreographer and teacher. He also holds a master's degree in choreography and stage production from the Moscow Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS).

Since his arrival in the nation's xapital, Kharatian has been a respected and much-loved teacher and coach, producing many medalists and world-class dancers. He has been on the faculty of the Kirov Academy and the School of the Washington Ballet. He has guest taught and lectured throughout North America and has taught such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and the Kirov Maryinsky Ballet.

Washington-area audiences will have multiple opportunities to see Kharatian's work in the coming months. The duet Dialogue will be one of the featured works during the Dance Metro DC Awards Presentation at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre on Monday September 14. Kharatian will be the featured guest at the March 3, 2010, installment of "Happenings at the Harman" at the Harman Theatre. And a retrospective of Kharatian's work is planned for March 7, 2010, at the brand-new Performing Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, as part of the "Three Dancers" program.

Kharatian will take up the post of Artistic director of the National Ballet of Armenia at the end of September 2009. Says Kharatian: "The National Ballet of Armenia is a high-level company of very well-trained dancers. However their worldview has been limited to the Russian and Soviet experience. I hope to broaden their horizon by introducing the best works of both past and present from around the world. More importantly, Armenia has a rich and unique tradition in dance and the arts, which I look forward to presenting to the world."