Faculty
Hagop Kharatian
Artistic Director
Hagop Kharatian trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Kirov Academy in Washington, DC with many renowned teachers including Konstantin Sergeyev, Natalya Dudinskaya, Alla Sizova and Roudolf Kharatian. He has worked as a principal dancer with the Washington Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Milwaukee Ballet, and as a guest principal dancer with many companies throughout the United States and Canada including Sarasota Ballet, Indiannapolis Ballet, Washington Ballet, Ballet Met, Los Angeles Classical Ballet and Les Ballets Classiques de Montreal. He has also appeared as principal guest artist in numerous festivals and galas and has been featured in programs such as “Suzanne Farrell Stages Balanchine” for the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and “Tribute to Kolpakova”, partnering such renowned ballerinas as Maria Calegari, Helene Alexopoulous and Leslie Browne. He has appeared on PBS in Alonzo King’s Map for the September 11th Relief fund and in a documentary about the making of Anna Karenina, and has been featured in Dance Magazine.
Mr. Kharatian has performed the main principal roles of the classical and contemporary repertoire in ballets including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, Cinderella, Le spectre de la rose, L’apres-midi d’un faune, Firebird; Balanchine’s Apollo, Prodigal Son, Theme and Variations, Monumentum/Movements, Valse Fantasie, Divertimento #15, Chaconne, Tzigane, and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue; Andre Prokovsky’s Anna Karenina, Fernand Nault’s Nutcracker and Carmina Burana, Anthony Tudor’s Pillar of Fire, Kurt Jooss’ Green Table, Nacho Duato’s Duende, William Forsythe’s Approximate Sonata, James Kudelka’s Desir, Choo San Goh’s Fives and Momentum, as well ballets by Mark Godden, Alonzo King, Nils Christe, Graham Lustig, Ohad Naharin, Margo Sappington, Roudolf Kharatian and many others.
He has also worked with such well-known directors, teachers and repetiteurs as Suzanne Farrell, Ib Anderson, Patricia Neary, Victoria Simon, Alla Osipenko, Vladilen Semyonov, Lupe Serrano, Maria Youskevitch, Oleg Vinogradov, Larry Rhodes, Gradimir Pankov and Martin Fredmann.
Mr. Kharatian has extensive experience as a ballet teacher and repetiteur, both nationally and internationally, with professional ballet companies and pre-professional schools and summer programs. From 1999 to 2009, he was principal guest teacher and repetiteur for ARKA Ballet in Washington, DC and since 2008 has been a guest teacher and coach with the National Ballet of Armenia. Some of the other schools and companies he has taught and coached include the Washington School of Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet School, Les Ballets Classiques de Montreal, Dance Art Center, Seiskaya Ballet Academy from where one of his students Cory Stearns is currently a Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Since 2011, he has been working with Arizona School of Classical Ballet and teaching at many valley schools.
Irina Abramyan
Artistic Director
Irina Abramyan started her dance career at the State "Barekamutiun" Dance Academy in Yerevan, Armenia. After graduating from the State Academy, she became a company member of the "Barekamutiun" Dance Ensemble. After dancing in this ensemble for a couple of years, she joined the National Ballet of Armenia where she danced all the company's repertoire. In 2006, Ms. Abramyan traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia where she became the Artistic Director of “The Nairi Dance Company”.
In 2011, after arriving in the United States, she choreographed for the Milwaukee Ballet’s II (trainee company) graduation program.
In 2012, she was invited to teach in several ballet schools in Arizona. Ms. Abramyan was teaching Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Contemporary, Pilates, International Dances, Argentinean Tango, Character, etc.
In March of 2014, she became the owner and the Artist Director of the Arizona School of Classical Ballet. All of The Arizona School of Classical Ballet’s productions succeeded under her leadership.
Timeline of Achievements:
2008- She was the Artistic Director for the dance department at the Armenian Orange Fitness Club.
2015-2023-ASCB students of Ms. Irina were invited to YAGP’s Finals in New York City and Tampa.
2017- The “Dle Yaman” and “Storm” contemporary pieces, took 1st place overall at KAR Dance Competition and received the Judges’ Choice Award and Poetic Vision Award. These pieces also have been recognized at YAGP Finals in New York City.
2018- Her Choreography for Raffi Galstyan, “The Beast in Me” took 2nd place at Tallinn International Ballet Competition, and received an invitation to compete at YAGP Finals in NYC. Many renowned choreographers, including Mr. Boris Eifman, complemented this contemporary piece and Raffi became the Principal Dancer of The National Ballet of Armenia.
2019- Ms. Abramyan received “The Best Choreographer” Award at WBAC Grand Prix International Competition. Also, her choreography “Warrior Princess” received 4th place overall at WABC Finals.
2022- Her choreographed solos, duets, and ensembles were all recognized at the Finals in Tampa. Her duet “Crane” under Armenian genius composer Komitas got special attention from all the judges.
2023- Ms. Irina is creating “Abramyan Ballet Coaching”. This program will transform pre-professional students, who are serious about the art of Ballet, to pursue their journey of becoming professional dancers and artists.
Yumi La Rosa
Flamenco
Yumi la Rosa’s studied in Spain with well-known Flamenco artists such as Rafaela Carrasco, Juana Amaya, Belen Maya, Leonor Leal, Isabel Bayón, “La Truco”, and others.
Upon returning to Phoenix, Yumi La Rosa joined Viva Flamenco directed by Lydia Torea as a company dancer and later became a soloist with Mosaico Flamenco at Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. She was also selected as a soloist with the prestigious touring group, Calo Flamenco, directed by Martin Gaxiola. Yumi was later invited to Mexico, India, and Singapore to teach Flamenco workshops and to perform. Currently, she is performing at Tapas Papa Frita Spanish restaurant in Scottsdale as a featured dancer.
Yumi La Rosa has been teaching flamenco for all ages throughout the valley to introduce the art of Flamenco. In 2009, she founded her own group, Yumi La Rosa Flamenco Dance and presented her very first dance production called Mujeres at Tempe Center for the Arts. The production has been growing each year featuring invited artists from other dance disciplines in addition to her own group. Yumi created Mujeres to give the public an appreciation of other cultures in general and of the richness of Spanish culture in particular.
Arion Tanabe
Ballet
Arion Tanabe grew up in the Midwest, where he studied ballet, jazz, modern and character at the Judith Svalander School of Ballet northwest of Chicago. He began teaching ballet and modern courses at the school at age 15 and became an accompanist for ballet classes at age 17. While pursuing his dance education, Arion also studied piano with Dr. Kenneth Drake, Prof. Emeritus of the University of Illinois.
Beginning in 2003, Arion worked throughout the Midwest as a professional ballet dancer with Milwaukee Ballet II, Dayton Ballet and Grand Rapids Ballet, also teaching and accompanying at their associated schools. From 2009 to 2013, he worked as a freelance dancer and teacher at several Chicago suburban ballet studios and civic companies. As an accompanist, he played regularly for ballet classes at Visceral Dance Studio and Lou Conte Dance studio, in addition to occasional accompanying for the Hubbard Street Dance Company, Columbia University and Northwestern University.
In 2011, Arion combined his knowledge of music and dance to compose an original musical score for Montgomery Ballet, helping create the companyʼs ballet Esoteric Imagery, choreographed by Paul Gilliam.In 2013, he moved to the Phoenix area, where he continues to teach, accompany and work on musical projects. Studios at which he has taught include Bender Performing Arts, Artistic Motion Dance and the Yen Li Chen Ballet School. He also accompanies at the School of
Ballet Arizona and Arizona School of the Arts.
Susie Kennedy
Preparatory Ballet/Tap/Jazz
Started dance at 3yrs old. Member of Delaware Regional Ballet Company, NERBA ,DMA, 1st runner-up Miss Jr. Dance of America, Scholarship to Harkness Ballet. Student teacher, Teacher Training at Kent State University, in N.Y. Studied with Charles Kelley, Bob Audey, Betsy Hauge, Madame Darvash, Leo’s Dance,Broadway Dance center, Joffrey Dance. Taught at Astoria Dance Center,Forest hills dance, Family Focus, Rhinelander. Personal trainer. Two National commercials for AT&T and Columbia Records. MTV “Love is a Battlefield “ video with Pat Benatar. In Phoenix: Naturally Women consultant and fitness instructor, Gotta Dance, My own Studio” 1st Positions Dance Academy “, Deer Valley Community Center, Beuf Community Center, AZDA, Legacy Ballet and now Arizona School of Classical Ballet.
Rebecca Boizelle
Contemporary
Rebecca Boizelle-Reeder attended Southern Utah University and National Taiwan University of Arts for her B.S. in Dance Education. She received the most dedicated dancer and most outstanding choreographer while attending SUU. Boizelle-Reeder has taught at several schools and studios in the Phoenix valley as well as working with special needs for the last two years. Her choreography has been featured at National College of Undergraduate Research, American College Dance Festival, Southern Utah University, and guest choreography for Dulce Dance Company. Boizelle-Reeder dances with Dulce Dance Company, Elevate Dance Company, and CaZo Dance Company. Currently Rebecca is currently a dental assistant student and enjoying the art scene in Arizona. She has been a member of CaZo Dance since May 2015.
Olivia Reidinger
Flamenco
Olivia started dancing at the age of three. She is trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, lyrical, and flamenco. She spent her former training at Mater Ballet Academy and Arizona School of Classical ballet. At Arizona school of classical ballet, she studied under Hagop Kharatian, a graduate from the renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy and Olga Tarasova. Olivia is currently attending Paradise Valley Community College where she is studying dance performance. Olivia is part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors society for Community colleges. She is also part of Yumi La Rosa’s flamenco company, located here in Phoenix.