Founder / Art Director
Rima Pipoyan is an internationally recognized Armenian choreographer, director, and performer, celebrated for her strikingly original choreographic language and poetic storytelling through movement. Known as one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Armenia, Pipoyan has established herself as a unique innovator who bridges philosophy, emotional depth, and theatricality with exquisite precision of the body. Rima Pipoyan, known for her vivid productions and profound concepts.
Pipoyan’s choreographic approach is characterized by a fusion of modern ballet, contemporary dance, and elements of martial arts, reflecting her diverse training background. Her works often delve into themes of identity, emotion, and existential inquiry, creating performances that are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
Pipoyan is one of the first Armenia-based choreographers to successfully present her choreographic works and stage performances internationally. Since 2013, her works have been featured in various dance festivals and competitions abroad, earning her invitations and collaborative offers from different countries as both a choreographer and performer. Pipoyan has presented her choreographic works in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Croatia, Russia, Germany, Poland, Moldova, Belgium, Portugal, etc
FOUNDER and CEO
Beyond her performances, Pipoyan is dedicated to the development of contemporary dance in Armenia. She founded the “Choreography Development” educational and cultural foundation in 2017, aiming to support emerging choreographers and dancers.
Since 2020, she has foundand led the Modern Dance Department at the Yerevan State Choreographic College, fostering a new generation of contemporary dance artists.
The departement is the only professional dance institution in the region providing education in the field of modern and contemporary dance.
TEACHING
As a dance teacher, Rima Pipoyan has over 15 years of experience working in leading Armenian state institutions, including the Pedagogical University, the Institute of Theatre and Cinema, and the Choreographic College. In addition, she conducts master classes in modern dance and teaches her signature dance style at various institutions abroad
RESIDENT ARTIST
She has been a resident artist as a choreographer in several prestigious institutions, including the Akademie der Künste in Berlin (2016–2017), La Biennale di Venezia in Venice (2019), and Villa Empain in Brussels (2021), among others.
EDUCATION
Rima Pipoyan graduated with honors from the Yerevan State Choreographic College as a ballet dancer and dance teacher. Since 2008, she has been a faculty member at the same college, where she teaches classical, character, and historical dance, as well as choreography. In 2012, she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in choreography with honors from the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. 2012-2019, she has been teaching and curating the ‘Choreographic Directing’ course at both of her alma maters. Rima is currently pursuing a PhD in Art and is in the process of writing a book on modern dance.
PROJECTS
Rima Pipoyan stands as a formidable force in the evolution of Armenian dance, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation.
At just 16, Pipoyan began crafting her own choreographic pieces, signaling the emergence of a visionary artist. Her early works, such as “That’s by falling that we rise” (2007) and “Medieval Images” (2010), showcased a unique fusion of classical ballet, contemporary dance, martial arts, and elements inspired by Armenian medieval art and sacred music. In 2016–2017, she was a resident artist at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, where she collaborated with various artists and presented “Hey, Kitty!”, a solo-film performance based on Anne Frank’s diary.
In 2019, as part of the “Biennale College Choreographers” project, she premiered “What if” at the Teatro Piccolo Arsenale in Venice. Her accolades include being named an Aerowaves choreographer in 2022, with her work “Me, My non-Self and I” featured at the Spring Forward Festival in Greece and the Internationale Maifestspiele Wiesbaden in Germany . This piece also marked a significant cultural collaboration between Armenia and Ukraine, emphasizing her commitment to fostering cross-cultural artistic exchanges. Notably, her solo piece “Woman before decision making” has been showcased in over 30 cities across nearly 10 European countries, earning acclaim for its originality and emotional depth.
In 2020, she made the short dance film YEL, which won 5 prizes as a Best Dance Film and over 30 official selections at famous dance film festivals all over the world.
In 2023, Armenian choreographer Rima Pipoyan premiered Anatomy of Emotions with Bern Ballett at Switzerland’s Stadttheater Bern—a bold, one-act ballet that delves into the complexities of love through a visceral, movement-based narrative. In 2024 in collaboration with the Yerevan State Pantomime Theater, Pipoyan staged the dance performances KHALI, BONE, and Mourning Women with her company, the Rima Pipoyan Dance Company.
In 2025, Rima Pipoyan unveiled ICON, a one-act ballet that stands as a monumental achievement in her choreographic journey. Premiering in Moscow and St. Petersburg, this production was a collaboration with Context Diana Vishneva platform and featured an original score by Armenian composer Sergey Umroyan. Pipoyan’s choreography challenges traditional representations, inviting audiences to reflect on the fluidity of identity and the transformative power of dance. The ballet’s staging was met with critical acclaim, with performances lauded for their emotional depth and innovative movement language. Audiences in both cities responded with ovations, underscoring the work’s resonance and Pipoyan’s prowess as a choreographer.
Rima Pipoyan Dance Company 