April 11, 2005 Los Angeles Times
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‘Komitas’ garners four Horton awards

By Diane Haithman, Times Staff Writer

Choreographer Anna Djanbazian’s revival of her 1980 ballet “Komitas,
Kroong Bnaver” (Komitas, Banished but Not Forgotten) – which her
Djanbazian Dance Company premiered in September at Glendale Community
College – was the big winner at the 14th annual Lester Horton Dance
Awards, receiving nods in four categories.

The awards, presented Sunday at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre by
the Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles, recognize excellence
in concert dance in the area for 2004.

Djanbazian’s two-act ballet honors iconic Armenian figure Komitas, who
preserved thousands of traditional songs and composed numerous
instrumental works before suffering a mental breakdown as a result of
the Armenian genocide in 1915.

The work netted awards for Djanbazian in the category of revival,
reconstruction, staging, and outstanding achievement in choreography –
long form. Awards for outstanding achievement in performance in the male
and female categories went to “Komitas” dancers Arsen Serobian and
Narineh Gazarians, respectively.

Also receiving multiple awards was “Sitting on January,” performed by
Backhausdance as part of the 2004 Celebration of Dance festival at
Glendale’s Alex Theatre last spring. The piece earned awards for
choreography – short form for Jennifer Backhaus McIvor , costume design
for Rhonda Earick and lighting design for Monique L’Heureux . Jill
Sanzo/Ballet of the Foothills also received an award for producing the
festival.

Special awards were given to postmodern dance pioneer Rudy Perez, ballet
master Stefan Wenta, composer Michael Roberts and The Times’ dance
critic Lewis Segal.

Other recipients included:

Music for dance: Rev. Tom Kurai & Satori Daiko, “Creation,” Rei Aoo’s
Dance Planet.

Performance, small ensemble: Rei Aoo, Erin Dwyer, Carrie Green, Carin
Noland, “Rain,” Rei Aoo’s Dance Planet.

Set design: Nina Kaufman and Bradley Shimada, “Found” and “What
Remains.”

Performance, company: Tongue, “Tertium Quid,” artistic director
Stephanie Gilliland.