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 Suzy
Barseghian-Tarpinian
Artistic Director and Choreographer
Suzy Barseghian-Tarpinian was born in Iraq and completed her
primary education at Our Lady of Presentation in Baghdad. In
1968, she moved to Beirut Lebanon with her family. While
continuing her education at the Seventh Day Adventist High
School, she immersed herself in the world of dance. She
began to attend Sonya Poladian's Ballet Academy, where she
learned classical ballet and Foyer de la Danse, which
specializes in contemporary dance, Simultaneously, she
participated in Hamazkayin Knar Dance Ensemble of Beirut,
Lebanon where she had many performances as a soloist
including Cyprus in 1970. Suzy was invited by well known
director Gerard Avedissian to perform as a principal soloist
in an Armenian musical, "Long Live the King".
In 1974, she immigrated to the United States and settled in
Santa Monica, California with her family. She enrolled in
Santa Monica Community College and studied finance. At that
time, there were no other Armenian dance groups in
California, and the dream of forming one had been shared by
both Suzy and her father, Haroutune Barseghian. Shortly
thereafter, inspired by her father's vision, Suzy founded an
Armenian dance group named Sardarabad Dance Group under the
Armenian Youth Association of California. Six months later,
Yeghia Hasholian joined and together, they assumed the roles
of artistic director and choreographer. In 1976, the group
joined Hamazkayin and was renamed the Hamazkayin Ani Dance
Group of Los Angeles. In 1982, Suzy married Sarkis Tarpinian
and had two children, Shant and Raffi, born in 1985 and 1988
respectively. Today, Suzy has a successful career as
Vice-President of one of the leading financial institutions
in the country.
Throughout the early 1980's, Suzy continued to teach and
choreograph in the classic Armenian style, utilizing
primarily classical composers, such as Grigor Yeghiazaryan,
Alexander Spentiaryan, and Aram Khachaturian among many
others. However, in the early 1980's, she became inspired by
the legendary Ballet Master of the State Dance Ensemble of
Armenia, Vanoush Khenamerian, and began to initiate more
traditional dances into the group. In 1988, Suzy had the
opportunity to meet the celebrated choreographer during one
of his tours in California. It was indeed an honor to meet
and consequently befriend this long revered idol of hers.
1994, she had the opportunity to meet and become acquainted
with Noryar Merhabyan, and together, they have collaborated
on many different occasions. Under Suzy's leadership, Ani
Dance Company has flourished and enjoyed domestic and
international renown.
However, her most salient dream was to perform in our
homeland, Armenia. After many years of endurance, this dream
was first realized in 1999 when the dance company celebrated
its twenty-fifth anniversary. It was in Armenia that Suzy
had the opportunity to not only visit the historic Biblical
sites, but also to meet and befriend professional dancers
and choreographers. When asked out her experiences in
Armenia, Suzy will say that the rewards which came from
these journeys have completed her not just as a
choreographer, but as a person. Since its memorable first
visit, the dance group has enjoyed three journeys to Armenia
and is always looking forward to the next one. In September
of 2001, the Dance Group became part of Hamazkayin Regional
Executive Affiliate and the group was renamed Hamazkayin Ani
Dance Company.
Over the years, Suzy and the Ani Dance Company have been
awarded many honors and accolades including Highest Medal of
the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society, Recognition
Award of Western Prelacy of the Apostolic Armenian Church of
America granted by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and
Recognition Award from Cultural Minister of Yerevan, Armenia
and Stepanakert, Artsakh. Additionally, the Ani Dance
Company has received official recognition from both the
California State Senate and the United States Congress, as
well as an honorable mention from California Governor,
Arnold Schwarzenegger and United States Congressman, Adam
Schiff.
Though she has enjoyed working with many genres within the
realm of Armenian dance, there are a few of her pieces that
will always hold a special place with Suzy. These include,
"Swans", "Ayisha", "Artskakh", "Armenian Suite", "Echoes
from Homeland", "and Requiem/Memoria", which is dedicated to
the memory of departed dancers and Suzy's late, beloved
father, who was always a constant source of inspiration. For
Suzy, these pieces require an extensive knowledge of dance,
a strong classical and modern background, and a combination
of discipline and passion. Because these theatrical dances
share the common theme of great expression, Suzy feels that
in order for the dance to be performed at its best, the
dancer must strive to reach the audience on an emotional
level.
Reflecting over thirty-five years of dedication to Ani, Suzy
relishes the experiences that only such a unique group can
offer. The dance company has performed approximately two
hundred times, and each of those performances remain
meaningful to Suzy. Working and traveling in such close
proximities as they do, the members of Ani are a close knit
group; indeed they have become Suzy's second family. Over
three decades of laughter and tears, marriages, children and
funerals, and Christmas parties and summer picnics reside in
Suzy's memories, and she is proud of the friendships that
have been forged through them. She recalls the past with
fondness and looks ahead to the new generation with
enthusiasm. While retired dancers remain her close friends
and offer help in any way they can, new generation of
dancers rejuvenate her spirits and promise a fresh outlook
on the world of dance. |
