‘Komitas’ garners four Horton awards

Choreographer Anna Djanbazian’s revival of her 1980 ballet “Komitas, Kroong Bnaver” (Komitas, Banished but Not Forgotten) -- which her Djanbazian Dance Company premiered in September at Glendale Community College -- was the big winner at the 14th annual Lester Horton Dance Awards, receiving nods in four categories.

The awards, presented Sunday at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre by the Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles, recognize excellence in concert dance in the area for 2004.

Djanbazian’s two-act ballet honors iconic Armenian figure Komitas, who preserved thousands of traditional songs and composed numerous instrumental works before suffering a mental breakdown as a result of the Armenian genocide in 1915.

The work netted awards for Djanbazian in the category of revival, reconstruction, staging, and outstanding achievement in choreography -- long form. Awards for outstanding achievement in performance in the male and female categories went to “Komitas” dancers Arsen Serobian and Narineh Gazarians, respectively.

Also receiving multiple awards was “Sitting on January,” performed by Backhausdance as part of the 2004 Celebration of Dance festival at Glendale’s Alex Theatre last spring. The piece earned awards for choreography -- short form for Jennifer Backhaus McIvor , costume design for Rhonda Earick and lighting design for Monique L’Heureux . Jill Sanzo/Ballet of the Foothills also received an award for producing the festival.

Special awards were given to postmodern dance pioneer Rudy Perez, ballet master Stefan Wenta, composer Michael Roberts and The Times’ dance critic Lewis Segal.

Other recipients included:

Music for dance: Rev. Tom Kurai & Satori Daiko, “Creation,” Rei Aoo’s Dance Planet.

Performance, small ensemble: Rei Aoo, Erin Dwyer, Carrie Green, Carin Noland, “Rain,” Rei Aoo’s Dance Planet.

Set design: Nina Kaufman and Bradley Shimada, “Found” and “What Remains.”

Performance, company: Tongue, “Tertium Quid,” artistic director Stephanie Gilliland.