Lori la Armenia
Paris
Biography
«Telle une valse entre rage et grâce, sa danse est subtile et captivante. Sans nuances superflues, sans effets périlleux et gratuits, Lori Bagdassarian, dite “La Armenia”, transforme son corps et sa danse pour trouver l'essentiel et nous maintenir en suspens». Julian Demoraga
A singular figure in the world of flamenco, subtly balancing rage and grace, Lori la Armenia began training in the 2000s alongside some of the greatest masters in Andalusia, including Manuela Carpio, Mercedes Ruiz, and Carmen Ledesma. She forged her talent in the “golden triangle” of flamenco - Seville, Jerez, and Cadiz -before making her mark on the stages of the most prestigious tablaos.
Her career took a decisive turn in 2008 when she joined Irina Brook’s company, revealing her talent as an actress and fusing dramatic arts with dance.
Her exceptional skill as a dancer was further cemented in October 2014, when she won First Prize at the Bulerías Dance Competition in Nîmes, receiving the award from flamenco master José Galván.
A prolific choreographer, her work spans opera, film, and television. She has contributed to notable productions such as Guillaume Gallienne's acclaimed film Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table !, Jacques Malaterre's television adaptation of Carmen, and Dikran Tchouhadjian's opera Gariné. Alongside these collaborative milestones, her original creations - such as Vivencias, Cantame, and Tierra - reflect a profound artistic quest, blending diverse cultural influences and occasionally weaving her Armenian heritage into her flamenco expression.
From the Yerevan Philharmonic to the Zénith in Paris, she has engaged in a wide array of collaborations, ranging from the electronic music of DJ Click to large-scale projects like We Call It Flamenco. Currently, she is on a European tour with Ruben Molina's show La Salida, performing with the company La nueva. Her artistic journey illustrates a constant quest for purity, where every movement is devoted to the essential.
SPECTACLES
TIERRA
“My dance is my land. I sow it with footsteps from afar, and you nourish it with your song, transcending our exile. TIERRA is a duet embodying the search for a lost paradise transformed into Flamenco.”
CANTAME
“It is your song that I dance.”
Lori invites us to a flamenco gathering, rooted in the legacy of flamenco rituals throughout history.
Flamenco is the fruit of a universal art form that emerged in the mid-19th century. Carried by the Gypsies and nurtured in Andalusia, it inherits a remarkably rich cultural legacy. This profound heritage gives rise to an art form of sacred dimensions, where dancing, singing, or playing becomes a state of trance!