Armenia needs law on choreography to regulate sector - specialist

April 29 is celebrated as the International Dance Day in many countries across the world, including Armenia.

The day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Council (CID, Conseil International de la Danse), a UNESCO partner NGO, in honor of the French dancer and ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre (who was born on Apr 29).

On this remarkable occasion, Tert.am has interviewed Karen Gevorgyan, Head of the Choreography Chair at the Armenian State Teachers’ Training University.

The specialist shared his concerns over problems in the sector, particularly the absence of a law that could regulate the ncessary activities.

“I have stated repeatedly and would like to raise the problem now again – that the absence of a law on choreography gives way to many problems.

“Dance is an activity that needs a law - as do theatre and cinematography - sectors for which the National Assembly does elaborate laws. But we seem to be outside of those processes, with nobody caring about dance.  It is necessary to clearly state who should have the right to teach dance or to wear a specific national costume with corresponding ornaments, and also who should have the right to introduce our ethnographic dances on international stages. These are problens that stem from the absence of a law,” he complained.

Instead the specialist highly praised Armenian choreographers’ professional talent
of successfully combining old and new traditions and making the Armenian dance presentable both domestically and on the international arena.

Asked whether he personally hasn’t worked on a corresponding bill or sought necessary procedures from the legislative, Gevorgyan said he knows that the Union of National Dancing Art has made a decision to ask the National Assembly’s president to initiate a process for elaborating a draft. “I think we will meet the National Assembly’s president in the near future to agree over practical solutions,” he added.