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Dance Studio Shows A New Move

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  • Dance Studio Shows A New Move

    DANCE STUDIO SHOWS A NEW MOVE
    By Michael J. Arvizu

    Glendale News Press
    Nov 2 2009
    CA

    Grigori Sedrakyan helps students in his couples dance class with
    their moves at Matador Dance Studio in Glendale last week. Sedrakyan
    opened his own studio after renting for the past three years. (Scott
    Smeltzer/News-Press)

    Matador Dance Studio, is the culmination of a lifelong dream for
    award-winning dancer Grigori Sedrakyan. After three years of having
    to rent studio space, the classically trained dancer finally has a
    studio he can call his own.

    Matador, at 1814 Flower St. in Glendale, celebrated its grand opening
    Wednesday.

    Sedrakyan, who co-owns Matador Dance Studio with wife, Lilia, was
    all smiles about his new studio and the opportunities that await him.

    "It's like a story that never ends," Sedrakyan said of his new studio.

    "I try to pass whatever I achieve, whatever I have, all this, to my
    students. It feels really good."

    Before opening Matador Dance Studio, Sedrakyan would have to rent
    space at various locations.

    Matador, Sedrakyan said, is bigger and offers better amenities than
    his old studios. The Flower Street studio offers space for private
    instruction, showers, a kitchen and waiting room. Currently under
    construction are a gym and a store that will be offered to parents
    to buy dance supplies.

    "Everything is different about this studio," said Ani Avetyan, whose
    daughter, Ani Ratevosian, is a student of Sedrakyan's. "It's much
    bigger and much nicer."

    Having his own studio also gives him the freedom to come in whenever he
    wants, giving his students more freedom to schedule private instruction
    and for other instructors to schedule group classes, Sedrakyan said.

    Sedrakyan offers classes for people of all ages -- his youngest student
    is 5, and his oldest student is 91. He tailors his teaching style to
    fit his student's age. Matador offers classes in international Latin
    dancing (Sedrakyan's specialty), ballroom dancing, international
    ballroom dancing, salsa, samba and rumba. Other classes Matador is
    looking to introduce include ballet and hip-hop.

    Sedrakyan began dancing in his native Armenia. He has been an
    instructor and student in Moscow, where he also competed. Sedrakyan
    has also competed and taught in Ukraine and Lebanon.

    When Sedrakyan moved to the United States, he began competing with
    partner Lilit Avagryan. The couple went on to win the U.S. nationals,
    becoming one of the top dance couples in the country. Avagryan is now
    an instructor at Matador. For now, Sedrakyan has stopped competing
    professionally so he can concentrate his efforts on teaching his
    students, he said.

    Sedrakyan has also choreographed shows in Las Vegas, most recently
    assisting on the choreography for the show "Le RÃ~Cªve."

    Sedrakyan, 27, has been teaching since he was 16, mentoring new
    students in Armenia. By the time he began teaching, Sedrakyan was
    already a dance champion.

    "I'm happy that we have this studio," said Matador Dance Studio student
    and instructor Mariam Narinyan, 18. "This one, I can come here any
    time. We have all the time here. It's much bigger. It's like the
    ballroom where I go and compete."

    The new studio, Narinyan said, will give her more time to practice --
    up to three or four hours, compared to the one hour she would have at
    the old studios. Practicing for only one hour made her feel unprepared
    for competition, Narinyan said.

    "This studio is more fun for them," said Armine Boulankian of West
    Hollywood, whose three kids are enrolled in classes at the studio.

    Dance student Nare Aharonyan said the old studio was cramped, and
    "most people didn't get to dance." Aharonyan said the new studio will
    give her more opportunities to dance, given that it's much bigger, and
    more freedom to express herself by taking advantage of a bigger space.

    "Anybody can come here for their health, and to learn how to dance,"
    Narinyan said.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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