September 18, 2026, 7 PM

BONE & KHALI

Rima Pipoyan Dance Company

BONE 

Concept and choreography: Rima Pipoyan ; performance: Milena Ghazaryan, Natella Baghramyan; music: Ekkehard Ehlers, Grisha Lichtenberger, Henry Purcell; costumes: Knkush Malkhasyan / 20 min.

“Bone” is a dance performance inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves. Exploring the archetype of the “wild woman,” it draws from the myth of a solitary woman in the forest who gathers wolf bones and brings them to life through dance and song. In Bone, the act of animating these ancient remnants becomes a metaphor for creation itself—the power to breathe life, spirit, and love into the impossible. The performance celebrates the transformative force of creativity, the depths of the soul, and the courage to confront the hidden, darker layers of our being, inviting both artist and audience to awaken passion, imagination, and creative madness.

KHALI

concept and choreography: Rima Pipoyan; performance: Rima Pipoyan Dance Company- Milena Barseghyan, Milena Ghazaryan, Natella Baghramyan, Tamara Ghevondyan, Greta Alaverdyan; music: Hayk Karoyi, Khazer Choir; costumes: Qnqush Malkhasyan / 30 min.

“Khali” is a dance performance inspired by the collective stories and vibrant heritage of Armenian rugs. The artists embody the five most significant colors—red, blue, green, yellow, and brown—bringing to life the soul, history, and symbolism woven into each thread. Armenian carpets, renowned since antiquity, were crafted with natural dyes from local plants, cochineal insects, nut and pomegranate peels, and indigo, creating harmonious and lasting shades.

The name “khali” traces back to the ancient city of Karin, a major center of carpet weaving, whose artistry reached Persia, Europe, and beyond. Armenian rugs, with their meticulous double-knot technique and rich textures, carry the stories of generations, blending craft, culture, and devotion.

Rima Pipoyan is an internationally recognized Armenian choreographer, director, and dancer, acclaimed for her strikingly original choreographic language and poetic storytelling through movement. Considered one of the pioneers of modern ballet and contemporary dance in Armenia, she has built a unique artistic voice that fuses ballet, contemporary dance, martial arts, and Armenian cultural heritage.

Pipoyan began choreographing at just 16, and since then her works have been presented at prestigious international stages and festivals across Europe. She has created award-winning productions such as Woman Before Decision Making (2018), a solo performed in more than 30 cities worldwide, and What If (2019), premiered at the Venice Biennale during her residency as part of the Biennale College Choreographers. In 2022, her work Me, My non-Self and I was selected as part of Aerowaves Twenty22, placing her among Europe’s most promising contemporary choreographers.

Ticket sales begin on July 19, 2026.

TICKETS:

60 PLN – regular price
45 PLN – Culture Card*, reduced-price ticket*, Dancer’s Card*

The festival is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund under the "Dance" program, implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.