IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
By Joyce Rudolph, The Leader
Burbank Leader, CA
March 15 2006
Seven dance companies come together at the Alex Theatre to celebrate
their art.
Jamie Nichols has jumped to the next level in dance performance.
The Glendale native was artistic director of her own contemporary dance
company, Fast Feet, for 23 years, but after retiring the company,
she switched to the role of executive producer and will bring seven
companies together for the “Celebrate Dance 2006” March 25 at the
Alex Theatre.
Nichols has raised the funds to produce the show and has chosen
award-winning companies for the performance, which will become an
annual event, she said.
“It has always been my dream to produce other people’s work,” she said.
It’s much more than just creating a show or making money, Nichols
said, it’s seeing other people’s work come to fruition. She wants to
give dance companies the chance to perform premieres of their work
in a world-class venue that will entertain a diverse audience at an
affordable price so that all ages can attend.
“They all have created Los Angeles premieres for this event and two
of the companies are from San Francisco. That means, I’m not only
supporting companies from the Los Angeles area, but companies from
outside Los Angeles,” said Nichols, who now lives in Pasadena.
The Alex performance will feature such genres as ballet, jazz,
modern and contemporary dance exhibited by companies with varied
ethnic backgrounds, she said.
Spicing up the event with a Latin flavor is Backhausdance, a company
that won three Lester Horton Dance Awards in 2004. The Horton Awards
are the premier awards recognizing excellence in professional concert
dance in Southern California, Nichols said.
JazzAntiqua Dance & Music Ensemble, directed by Pat Taylor, celebrates
the African-American roots of the jazz tradition with visceral jazz
dance and the Djanbazian Dance Company, led by artistic director Anna
Djanbazian of Glendale, brings an Armenian touch to the event, while
blending ballet and modern skills with traditional dance, she said.
The Djanbazian Dance Company is based out of the Djanbazian Dance
Academy in La Crescenta, which draws students from Glendale, Burbank
and the foothills, Djanbazian said.
It won four Horton Awards in 2004, Nichols said.
“I adore Anna’s work,” she said. “Her work has a beauty and lightness
that’s stunning.”
For the Alex performance, Djanbazian has choreographed the dance
“Ser,” which means love. It is based a work of contemporary Armenian
poet Grish Davadian, Djanbazian said.
“This dance is about the love of an innocent boy and girl,” she said.
“Without knowing each other, they are wishing to find love. They
go to a sacred place in the village, in the garden of a monastery,
and pray for love. They see each other and hold each other’s hand
and that sparks love in their hearts.”
Arsineh Ananian, 19, of Glendale who has been with the company for
14 years, will dance the female lead, she said.
“She’s a very strong dancer, very emotional and energetic,” Djanbazian
said.
Arsen Serobian of Hollywood is dancing the male lead. He is not
with the company but he and Djanbazian have worked together in other
performances twice before, she said.
“He is a wonderful guy and a very emotional dancer,” she said.
“The most important thing is, we understand each other very well. A
performer must have a direct connection with you. It’s easy to work
with him.”
Nichols is also enthusiastic about seeing Serobian perform.
Formerly with the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia, Serobian also studied
acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood,
Nichols said.
He does both professionally, and the acting helps his dancing ability,
she added.
Serobian received the Horton Award for Outstanding Achievement
Performance Male in 2004 with the Djanbazian Dance Company, she said.
“I think the beauty of Arsen’s performance is not just his technical
ability, but his tremendous ability to embody the characters that he
dances,” Nichols said.
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