CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Ballet is back on stage. That's good news for dancers and audience members alike. And it's a life changing decision for an Armenian family who now is sharing their talent with Cleveland.
The ballet “Don Quixote," performed in 2 acts, marked the Cleveland Ballet’s long-awaited return to Playhouse Square. On stage was husband and wife Narek Martirosyan and Albina Ghazaryan and their nephew Emmanual Martirosyan. The family of Armenian professional dancers were with the New Jersey Ballet when the pandemic hit, shutting down live performances.
“Our ballet career actually doesn’t like when you stop. Every single day counts,” remarked Albina Ghazaryan.
“I was thinking about stop dancing and doing something else,” said Narek Martirosyan.
“I thought I wasn’t going to dance anymore because everything was shut down. I became a full-time teacher basically,” added Emmanual Martirosyan.
The three were teaching dance over Zoom, hoping to get back on stage. They felt time was running out for their dancing careers. That's when Narek saw a social media post about auditions in Cleveland.
“And then I saw the post. Looking for dancers and I saw this opportunity,” said Narek.
A Zoom meeting with the Cleveland Ballet produced an instant connection.
“The feeling that I knew them for a very long time helped me make the decision to come here,” said Narek.
In August, the trio came to Cleveland for a formal audition, which coincided with Albina’s birthday.
“The way our company meet us and sang for me the birthday song, it was the best thing every. And the cake, they had a cake for me with my name on it. It was very touching honestly,” said Ghazaryan as she smiled.
The auditions were a success, so the family moved to Northeast Ohio where they made their debut over the summer. They also danced in Vermillion, home of the company's summer residency.
Those first performances helping to ease some of the stress and emotional turmoil of the last year and a half.
“I enjoy dancing with my wife because I know anything I do wrong, she can fix it on the stage. I’m dancing and I feel I have her support,” said Narek.
“I defiantly know from wherever I run and jump he is going to catch me,” added Ghazaryan.
The family are on stage again for “The Nutcracker." They're thankful this holiday season for a new home and a new, extended family.
"Since the first day I walked in here, everybody was just super friendly, super welcoming, I felt I know these people for a long time," said Emmanual.
“The Nutcracker” at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace runs from Friday, December 3rd to Sunday, December 5th.