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Armenian State Pedagogical University is the only university [in Armenia] that trains dance educators. For almost half a century, graduates with the specialty of Dance Education have been spreading Armenian dance across the country and beyond its borders, thus becoming unique ambassadors of national dances.
Karen Gevorgyan, Head of the Chair of Dance Education and its Teaching Method, is also the artistic director of the "Berd" dance ensemble. He proudly notes the ensemble is mainly composed of graduates, current students or lecturers of ASPU.
“Last year, future choreographers and university professors went on tours and participated in festivals as part of the ensemble anniversary celebrations. This is the best platform for lecturer-student cooperation, as well as a unique way to present the University (ASPU) and the professions it offers. Professional stages give students an opportunity to acquire professional abilities and skills in the best way,” Karen Gevorgyan said adding that they were proud to announce on all platforms that the ensemble members are students and graduates of a university that has a century-old history.
The long-term dance teacher says practice is the best way to become a professional, and most importantly, there is an interesting tendency in the development of dance art [in Armenia]; children from dance schools apply to the corresponding stream of the ASPU base school/college, later to ASPU and then to the "Berd" ensemble and professional stages. Such a change of generations in dance confirms that Armenian dances have deep roots and are in reliable hands.
Professor Gevorgyan thinks that degree in dance is important. it's one thing to dance well, it's another thing to master it theoretically: the content of each movement, the way and method of performing them, the psychology and means of expression are all important.
"The knowledge [of all abovementioned components] is vividly expressed on stage. If a choreographer has not danced on professional stages and has not publicized Armenian dances on international stages, he cannot become a choreographer promoting Armenian dances. He should experience Armenian dances with his own blood to be able to teach the dance alphabet in the best possible way,” the experienced choreographer said highlighting in that context the participation of ASPU representatives [as members of “Berd” ensemble] in an international dance festival in France.
Speaking about international collaboration and concerts, Karen Gevorgyan highlighted the importance of cooperation between ASPU and international dance structures. In 2022, at the invitation of Hovhannes Virabyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Argentine Republic, Karen Gevorgyan visited Argentina, where, on behalf of the Faculty of Culture of ASPU, he signed a memorandum of cooperation with a university of Buenos Aires to strengthen bilateral ties and exchange of experience.
Karen Gevorgyan held master classes at the Argentine university and told the locals about Armenian dances. Mutual visits of students and professors will be organized this year. By the way, on the sidelines of the cooperation, Karen Gevorgyan staged Armenian folk dances in the State Dance Ensemble of Buenos Aires; today, the ensemble has a series of folk dances in its repertoire, which are performed in Armenian traditional clothing – Taraz.
Mr. Gevorgyan added that very often they receive invitations to participate in concerts personally from ASPU graduates. "We were in Los Angeles at the invitation of the “Hayastan” Cultural Center.
Both the director of the center and his son are graduates of ASPU. For 25 years now, they have been teaching Armenian dances far from their Homeland passing on the traditions to the next generations.
Karen Gevorgyan regrets to say that there is no possibility to conduct distance education and as a result many choreographers living and creating abroad are not able to receive education and undergo training at ASPU.
"I am glad that the University [ASPU] is expanding international cooperation. In that context, it is doubly important to involve dance professionals and group leaders of the Diaspora in order to increase the level of preparedness, performance skills and theoretical knowledge of dance teachers who spread Armenian dances,” Karen Gevorgyan said. He added proudly that Armenian dances were also presented in Brazil, where at the invitation of the local International Center for Dance Teaching master classes were held [for eight days in Salvador for about 70 dance specialists and dance lovers.
Even today, Dance Education continues to remain one of the most in-demand and competitive specialties of the University. Students and professors are involved in different professional ensembles; they perform and present Armenian dances in many international competitions and festivals.
It has become a tradition that all events organized for visiting guests be accompanied with performances of future choreographers, and the final exam in the specialty has been a long-awaited cultural event for culture lovers.
