The Experimental Center of Performing Cultures "Kharatyan" will open  in Armenia in 2022

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).