Spring Showcase at Center Stage Theater

Dance with Harout Performance Company is a unique dance ensemble that integrates dancers of all ages and abilities, from all walks of life. Everyone dances and everyone has a place on stage, regardless of age, race, body type, sexual or gender orientation, dance experience or physical limitations. Under the stewardship of founder, artistic director, producer and instructor Harout Aristakessian, the company has grown exponentially over the last three years, and now comprises more than 35 dancers, aged 22 to 70. While a few have formal dance training, many of the company’s performers have little or no previous dance instruction. Most had never danced in front of an audience before joining the group.

Harout’s unique choreographic voice coalesces stylistic elements from street and lyrical hip hop, burlesque, urban-inspired jazz and Middle Eastern dance traditions. Instead of insisting on rigid adherence to any one form of expression, Harout encourages dancers to infuse each dance move with her or his own spirit and style. This artistic focus on self-expression and self-acceptance (as opposed to physical or aesthetic “perfection”) allows dancers the freedom to explore new emotional, intellectual and physical connections to the music and choreography. Harout has harnessed and forged this artistic diversity into an eclectic repertoire of cohesive works that showcase each dancer’s voice and abilities.

Spring 2015 marks the first solo showcase performance for the Dancewith Harout Performance Company and promises to be a powerful, energetic and inspiring event. Dance with Harout Performance Company has performed at a variety of venues up and down California’s Central Coast over the past three years, including two previous showcases in collaboration with other dance companies, and they will be bringing both fan favorites and new choreography to the Solo Showcase. The company’s Spring Showcase will be the group’s third annual showcase performance in downtown Santa Barbara.