Ballet Master Armen Grigoryan Sues the Opera Theater

Ballet master and former head-choreographer of the Yerevan Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, Armen Grigoryan, has filed a lawsuit against the Opera Theater.

Grigoryan is seeking to invalidate the theater's director's order, which dismissed him from his position and cut the head-choreographer's role, issued on September 13. The position was eliminated by Acting Director Karine Kirakosyan following complaints and disturbances from the theater's ballet artists.

Kirakosyan’s order stated in part: “Considering that the functions of the ballet group, the chief ballet master, ballet group inspectors, and coaches overlap, resulting in disruptions to the effective organization of the ballet group's work, leading to various conflictual situations that negatively impact the healthy atmosphere of the ballet group, the quality of performances, as well as the overall results of the work, the position of the head-choreographer will be reduced.”

Armen Grigoryan's lawsuit also demands compensation for the entire period of enforced unemployment.