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INSTRUCTORS
Apo | Alina | Garineh | Shaghig | Suzy
Apo Ashjian
Director / Principal
Apo has been active in Armenian dance for more than 30 years. Studying under
choreographers Sarkis Paskalian and Ohan Armoudian, he has performed extensively
with Armenian dance ensembles as well as with the internationally renowned
Mandala Folk Ensemble.
In 1982, Ashjian directed his first production, "Tribute to Armenian Heritage," at Tufts University, in Medford, MA. He has been a director of the Erebouni Dance Ensemble of the Boston Chapter of Hamazkain (1980) and the Daron Dance Ensemble of the Greater Boston Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (1981-1985).
In October 1987, Ashjian traveled and studied with various dance ensembles in Armenia. At the invitation of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Armenians Abroad, he returned to Armenia twice, in January 1990 and September 1992, to continue his training. He studied with choreographer and soloist for the State Dance Ensemble of Armenia, Gagik Karapetian, and also with Artousha Karapetian, a choreographer and expert of ethnographic dances.
In 1994, Ashjian received a certification as an Armenian dance Director and Choreographer from the Dance Department of the Khatchadour Apovian School of Dance Instruction and Choreography. He completed the extensive five-year course of study, a few months at a time, during his many visits to Armenia.
Born in Syria and raised in Lebanon, Ashjian immigrated to the United States in 1970. After graduating from the Cambridge Public School System, he majored in Physical Education at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Ashjian, his wife and three children live in Belmont, MA.
"My dream has always been to be able to provide an environment where kids and the youth of our communities can come together and, through the art of dance, learn about our culture, history and music. My hope is to be able to instill in them, love for our homeland and our people — at least as much as I do. My goal is to make a contribution to society by making a difference in the lives of our Armenian communities. This is what I live for and this is what I love doing with passion."
Alina Ashjian
Assistant Director
Alina
is Assistant Director at ABAKA and also a member of the Sayat Nova
Dance Company of Boston. She has been involved in Armenian Dance from a
very young age. Alina attends Simmons College where she is majoring in Nursing.
"Dance has become a part of who I am and performing is a passion I can never let go of. The feeling of passing my passion on to the next generation is an extremely rewarding feeling. By teaching the children, we give them a life-long lesson about their culture as well as their history through the unique art of dance."
Garineh Ashjian
Assistant Director
Garineh is Assistant Director at ABAKA and also a member of the Sayat
Nova Dance Company of Boston. She has been involved in Armenian Dance from
a very young age. Garineh attends Mount Ida College where she is majoring in
Criminal Justice and plans to attend law school.
" Abaka is a place for young Armenians to come and enjoy their culture while learning about their history through music. It is a place where they can be proud of who they are and represent that pride through dancing. To me, there is no better feeling than teaching these children and knowing that they will carry the name of Armenians proudly upon their shoulders for the rest of their lives."
Shaghig Palanjian
Shaghig has been involved in Armenian dance from a very young age. Studying
under dance director Flora Kaloustian, she has been an instructor of Armenian
dance for the Erebouni Dance Ensemble of the Boston Chapter of Hamazkain
and an Assistant Director of the AGBU Daron Dance Ensemble of Boston. She
is currently the Assistant Director of the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston.
Born in Lebanon, she immigrated to the United States in 1976. Her interest in art has led her to study drama and ballet at Northeastern University. She lives in Waltham, MA along with her husband and two children.
She is the granddaughter of Armenian composer Parsegh Ganachian.
"Sharing the love of the Armenian culture presented through dance with the next generation of Armenians, is the most fulfilling, rewarding and humbling experience. Having taught all these years, it is amazing to see how the younger generations have grown, and now are teaching their children the basic love of our culture. Seeing our former students bringing their children to learn the culture through the art of dance, gives a sense of reward and accomplishment that words can not describe. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve our community and to pass on our rich heritage through teaching Armenian dance."
Suzy Ohannessian
Suzy is an 18 year member of the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston. Suzy was born in Beirut, Lebanon and came to the U.S. in 1983. Suzy is currently the International Alliances Coordinator for Cubist Pharmaceuticals.
"Teaching at Abaka, for me, is one of the most rewarding experiences I will ever have. It is seeing our children's faces light up with excitement and their smiles when they come to practice every week that makes it all worthwhile. It's what makes us who we are and what we will be in the future...our 'Abaka'."