The Music Center's Study Guide to the Performing Arts
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DANCE TRADITIONAL ARTISTIC PERCEPTION (AP) ® CLASSICAL CREATIVE EXPRESSION (CE) Artsource CONTEMPORARY HISTORICAL & CULTURAL CONTEXT (H/C) The Music Center’s Study Guide to the Performing Arts EXPERIMENTAL AESTHETIC VALUING (AV) MULTI-MEDIA CONNECT, RELATE & APPLY (CRA) ENDURING FREEDOM & THE POWER THE HUMAN TRANSFORMATION VALUES OPPRESSION OF NATURE FAMILY Title of Work: About the Artwork: Interlace (1992) and Sarve Kashmir Interlace is a traditional Armenian dance based on the Creator: structural designs seen on Armenian churches from Anna Djanbazian b. 1952 the 4th – 17th century. In keeping with a strong Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of the communal feeling, there is an emphasis on group Djanbazian Dance Company movement and patterns. Traditional Armenian Background Information music supports the dancers. Graceful arm and hand Choreographer, dancer, and teacher, Anna Djanbazian movements and interlocking arms echo the lines and began dancing at the age of three in her father’s ballet design motifs on the buildings. Circular floor school in Tehran, Iran. As the daughter of a Persian pathways that spiral in and out, linear formations mother and Armenian father, Anna grew up with a rich with intricate connections and weaving patterns cultural and artistic heritage. Sarkis Djanbazian, Anna’s between the dancers visually highlight the grace and father was a former member of the legendary Kirov quiet strength of the dance. In keeping with Ballet Company in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) who Armenian tradition, the costume includes a small hat left Russia in the 1940s to escape the difficult political with an attached veil that covers the hair, a big jacket climate. The school he started in Tehran, the Djanbazian belted at the waist and a skirt that hides the feet - Ballet Studio, was recognized as a National Treasure by emphasizing the illusion of effortless gliding. the Shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. Later, her Creative Process of the Artist or Culture: father was also honored with the National Arts Medal. Anna Djanbazian’s Persian- After high school, Anna left Iran to attend the Yerevan Armenian heritage, love of Choreographic Dance University in Armenia, (then part design, nature, and her commit- of the USSR). Earning a B.A. degree in Classical Ballet ment to grow as an artist and Armenian Folk Dance, she returned to Tehran, took influence her themes and over her father’s school and began her own career. For choreographic projects. While she 12 years, Anna produced and staged over 43 dances and remains strongly tied to the eight full-length ballets. In 1984, she and her family left Photo: Glimore 1996 traditional dances, she does not want them to remain Iran because of the restrictions imposed upon artists by frozen in time like “precious objects gathering dust on the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Following in her father’s a shelf.” footsteps, Anna opened her own studio in 1988 in Ancient Armenia “I want to keep the dances of Glendale, California. She also earned an MA Degree Black Sea Caspian my cultures alive - to stay Sea from UCLA where she explored Modern Dance. Anna’s connected to their roots. Mediterranean and I also feel this need to grow Sea IRAN dream of a company to present cultural and modern and look at them with a new IRAQ vision that is contemporary but works was realized in 1991. Egypt Persian Gulf remains cultural.” Anna Djanbazian.