Born: 1887 (Shamakha, Russian Empire)
Died: 1976
Biography:
Armen Ohanian (Armenian: Արմեն Օհանյան), born Sophia Pirboudaghian (Armenian: Սոֆիա Պիրբուդաղյան, 1887–1976) was an Armenian dancer, actress, writer, and translator. She was born in Shamakha, which was then part of the Russian Empire (now in Azerbaijan), into an upper-class Armenian family.
Armen Ohanian’s life was marked by tragedy and resilience. In 1902, when she was just fifteen years old, a devastating earthquake struck her hometown, forcing her family to move to Baku. It was in Baku that she attended a Russian school and witnessed the horrific anti-Armenian pogroms in 1905, which resulted in the death of her father, Emanuel. These experiences shaped her worldview and fueled her ambition to make a difference through her art.
In 1906, Ohanian began her acting career as Sophia Ter-Ohanian in the theater group of the Armenian Cultural Union of Baku. Two years later, she moved to Moscow to pursue further artistic training. She studied plastic arts at the Nelidova School and simultaneously performed her first dances at the renowned Maly Theatre.
In 1909, Armen Ohanian briefly joined the Tbilisi Opera before embarking on a journey to Iran. During this time, the country was undergoing the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, and Ohanian played an active role as a dancer and actress. She co-founded the Persian National Theater in Tehran, fostering the participation of Iranian women in the performing arts.
In April 1910, Ohanian organized a groundbreaking musical and literary gala in cooperation with the Persian Women Benevolent Association. For the first time in Iranian history, women could perform on stage and watch a film. In May of the same year, she produced and directed Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector in Persian, taking on the role of Maria Antonovna.
While in Iran, Ohanian honed her skills in Oriental dances, merging her Armenian roots with the rich cultural tapestry of the region. Her talent and charisma caught the attention of international audiences, propelling her career to new heights. After leaving Iran, she embarked on a tour of Egypt and the Ottoman Empire before finding success in London in 1911.
Armen Ohanian became a sought-after name in the Western cultural scene, which was captivated by exotic dances at the time. Drawing inspiration from the pioneering American dancer Isadora Duncan, Ohanian developed her own choreography that blended Armenian and Iranian music. Her performances, such as Salome, At the Temple of Anahit, Treason, and The Great Khan of Shamakha, mesmerized audiences across Europe and the United States.
Throughout the 1910s and early 1920s, Ohanian performed extensively in London, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Sofia, Madrid, and other European cities. She received critical acclaim and the approval of renowned writers such as Maurice Maeterlinck, René Ghil, and Claude Anet. Her dances were described as wonderful Persian Dances during a production of Lakme at the London Opera House in 1915.
In addition to her successful dance career, Ohanian ventured into literature while settling in Paris in 1912. She penned poignant poems and autobiographical sketches that captured her experiences and struggles. Her writing showcased her inner world and allowed her readers to glimpse the complex emotions and thoughts that drove her artistic spirit.
Armen Ohanian’s contribution to women’s history cannot be understated. She defied societal expectations and carved her path in a male-dominated field during a time when women faced numerous obstacles. Ohanian’s determination and ability to connect with audiences across cultures broke barriers, inspiring generations of women to pursue their aspirations fearlessly.