At the age of 85, RA People’s Artist, recipient of the RA “Movses Khorenatsi” and “Mesrop Mashtots” medals, founder of Armenia’s “Barekamutyun” state ensemble, Honorary Citizen of Yerevan Norayr Mehrabyan has died.
Norayr Mehrabyan was born in 1941, in Yerevan. In 1946 he was admitted to the Yerevan choreography school, and afterwards went to work at the Yerevan Spendiaryan National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet as a solo dancer.
In 1970 he was invited to the Leningrad Choreographic Miniatures ballet troupe. Three years later he returned to Yerevan and assumed the post of artistic director of the choreography school.
In those years he created his first productions. In 1984-1986 he was the artistic director of the opera theatre’s ballet troupe.
In 1987, on Mehrabyan’s initiative, Armenia’s “Barekamutyun” state dance ensemble was created.
He formed dance groups and ensembles in the Armenian communities of Beirut, Cyprus, Aleppo and Los Angeles.
He was invited and worked with Beirut’s “Nor Serund,” Hamazkayin’s “Ani” and, in France, the “Yeraz” dance groups.
In 1973-1983 he was the artistic director of the Yerevan choreography school, at the same time working as a classical dance teacher.
He also worked in Armenia’s State Dance Ensemble.
