YEREVAN. – The ballet dancer Armina Khachatryan settled in Armenia “accidentally.” After completing her service in Israel, Armina, who came to Armenia only for a month, never thought, that she would no longer want to return.

“The Israeli military servants keep a tradition to go for a holiday with friends, after their service is completed. So, I decided to come to Armenia for a month. I also wanted to participate in the project Dance if You Can. I came to Armenia, and I stayed,” said Armina.

Armina moved to Israel when she was 2 years old. It was first difficult for her to live in Armenia. She remembers, that there was no Armenian community in the Israeli town her family moved to from Ashtarak. The Israeli children did not understand her and mocked her for her Armenian habits. Even one day, when she went to school dressed in a black and white uniform, her classmates mocked her, saying that she had a Halloween costume.

“My parents had been called to school and said, that I was very active and had too much energy, which kept me from concentrating. They decided to take me to dances. I had attended ballet classes, before I became 10. I had a flatfoot, and therefore, failed to receive any performance role. I remember, I came home, turned on Tchaikovsky and imagined, that I am on the stage, dancing ballet ... My teacher did not allow me to wear ballet shoes. Instead, I took a lid of the washing liquid, put on my legs, and began moving. My mother was saying, that I was crazy. I had to leave the ballet, but I was always thinking about classical dances. My teachers used to say, that I would not do it, but I kept practicing at home,” said Armina.

Armina did not refuse form her dream of dancing ballet.  When she was 20, she finally decided to make her dream a reality at any cost. She was accepted to a dancing school and participated in project When Stars Are Dancing. 

“Everyone was younger than me at college. It was funny, but I really wanted to do ballet. My teachers told me, that I could. They believed in me, and I began working. Every day I came home from classes, studying all night. In the morning, again I attended classes.”

 

Armina told, that she did not fit for ballet physically. “In general, it is surprising, when a ballet dancer who has a flatfoot and usually gets injured receives roles of a ballet dancer.” Armina believes, that it is thanks to her hard work and willpower. She decided, that in parallel to advancing dancing, she will establish an art school for needy children, who suffer pressure from their surroundings, constantly hearing that they will not achieve anything. Armina, faced with the unanimity of some of her teachers, knows herself what harm each false word can do.

“I want, that children who have psychological problems and who do not believe in themselves have a possibly to learn music, painting, dance at this school. Many of the children I see are broken. I want them to show how they can fight, stand up, as I did.”

There is still a lot to do to make dreams come true. 25-year-old Armina does not give up. She fulfills a small part of her dream even today, conducting dance classes in orphanages free of charge. Armina succeeds in making even children who refuse to communicate with people in general dance.

“These children smile,” she goes silent for a few seconds, then slowly continues, it seems difficult to find words. “When I help others, it opens up some room in my heart.”

Although it is difficult for Armina and her brother to live away from her family, on a small wage, she has never regretted to “accidentally” moving to and connecting all her dreams and goals with Armenia.

“There are people who think that Armenia is not a place to live. No money. I agree. It is difficult to live here. However, if we think right, just think ... we can rise here, even after falling... I want to know, that I have made changes in this world, even if very small. What is important for me is to know I helped some people.  If you cannot change the whole world, change the world of one person,” said Armina.