Armineh Keshishian is the founder and artistic director of Evolution Dance Theatre, and has created and produced a number of multidisciplinary dance theatre productions. Armineh is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who believes in abundant living, and that anything is possible if you truly desire it. She brings to her role as the creative force behind these productions of this extraordinary company the discipline and abilities she has developed over the course of her more than 25 years as a Certified Financial Planner/Wealth Manager. Many have been inspired by her because of her business education, passion, and creativity, but most of all because she believes that “we always have a choice.” “I strive to create cultural fusion through art. I am inspired by concepts of women’s empowerment, diversity & inclusion, multiculturalism and breaking down outdated archetypal traditions. My aim is to bring people and cultures together by focusing on our commonalities vs. our differences,” says Armineh.
Armineh is an award-winning author and #1 best seller of “Joyous Wealth – 56 Secrets to Riches and Wellness”. Armineh is an international speaker and a media personality featured on TV, radio and magazines. In addition, she has contributed to Universal Womens Network – 100 Women of Inspiration 2021 Book “Women of Inspiration: Women Driving Change.”
Armineh is the recipient of the “Top Female Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Most Influential Female Entrepreneur”, “Top 10 Unstoppable Women Entrepreneurs” and “Women of Inspiration – Cultural Ambassador” awards just to name a few.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between CIO Affairs and Armineh Keshishian:
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
As a teenager, I came to North America from the Middle East. It was a difficult time as I was homesick and couldn’t speak English! However, I pressed on, went to school, adapted quickly, joined our community, and made new friends. In my 20s, I started in financial consulting/wealth management, a male-dominated industry. While I was immersed in the financial industry, the love of dance and music was still deeply rooted in me. I started taking Middle Eastern, jazz, and modern dance classes as my passion for dance and performance had begun as a young child. However, belly dancing in the Middle East is taboo. I decided that no society or culture could tell me what I could or could not do and decided to perform in public.It was an exciting and creative time for me, and as a result, I started writing stories. The stories were revealed through choreography, movement, and music. I had two beautiful dances in mind; one was ‘Pharaonic’ an old Egyptian story, and the other was the ‘Black Cobra’. In ancient mythology, it was perceived that a human could transform into a serpent and back again. It is the fascination with the duality of the serpent; the wisdom and the temptation, a parallel to human relationships. I had these two stories in mind. However, I decided to start the production without a specific time frame for the performance. Soon after, I started casting and rehearsing. During the rehearsals, the rest of the story revealed itself. I created Evolution Dance Theatre – a not for profit company, and we debuted our first production, “Evolution …of the Human Kind.”
What has made you successful? What do you value?
The company has evolved since its inception in 2006. As it began with Middle Eastern dancing, we gradually added dance fusion and cultural fusion through stories emphasizing multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion, and women’s empowerment has always been at the forefront of Evolution Dance Theatre. Repeated audiences, media attention, and all the feedback we have received have given us the assurance that our messaging resonates with many.
Our full-length productions have universal appeal, and through the stories we tell, we aim to spark social change. The Middle Eastern dance forms, in combination with a variety of other dance genres, are a canvas to create spectacles that incorporate gorgeous costumes, live and recorded music, performances, digital media, set décor, special effects, and beautiful imagery to transport the audience on a wondrous journey into the depths of the human spirit.
What are the major services of your company and how do you get ahead of the competition? What value added services does your company provide?
We develop, promote, and perform original Middle Eastern-inspired stories through unique, one-of-a-kind performances that are visceral, visually captivating, and have broad universal appeal. Evolution Dance Theatre tells stories that cross boundaries of gender and generations, bridges the global cultural gap, and reinforces the universality of the human condition. We bring people and cultures together with the core values of unity, universality, and integrity. Evolution Dance Theatre emphasizes multiculturalism, women’s empowerment, diversity, and inclusion through stories that are rich and colorful displays of the Middle Eastern culture that is so mysterious to the Western world.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
Our company’s mandate is to entertain, educate, and inspire. Everyone involved in the company, from the board of directors to the personnel and the cast, believes in our message. Collectively, we work towards the idea that there is hope, and we aim to spark social change through our productions.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in Your company?
The most significance is that We are One Human Race. In addition there is no other production company that units the whole Middle Eastern countries as one and tell stories with broad appeal showcasing on main stages.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
In our company, each person brings their unique skills and energy to the whole. Each individual is valued, and there is an open door policy where each person is seen, heard, and appreciated. Furthermore, there is always an emphasis on working as a team and on the productions.
What are your responsibilities as the Artistic & Executive Director of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
I create art, the messaging, and the vision. I am fortunate to have a team of inspired, skilled, and beautiful people to execute the vision. We all work together as one unit.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
I share with you my 3D philosophy: Desire, Determination, and Dedication. You must have a desire level of 100% in order to start your dream, decide that you are going to do it, and then commit to it no matter what challenges you are faced with. To be a leader, you must have a clear vision, be willing to do the work, walk the front row with courage, and lead your team with inspiration, appreciation, love, and respect.
