Although the bright years of dancing were short lived for Suzie, through hard practices and devoted supervision of Madam Anahid Janbazian, her instructor, her talents flourished and brought joy to her audience in numerous performances among which the variation of “Gisselle” and the role of Clara in “Nutcracker” were the most prominent.
Suzie's graceful performance in “Komitas-Krung Bnaver” ballet, presenting the “Tortured Girl” by Antooni, on the the 40th anniversary of Tehran-DJ Ballet School in 1982 was greatly acclaimed and distinguished her as a leading ballerina among 40 other dancers. Aramayis Aghamalian, a late director, who was impressed by Suzie’s performance, wrote in Alik daily newspaper “… It’s impossible to forget Suzie’s performance as “Tortured Girl” which revived the horrific image of Der-Zor. In that difficult scene Suzie with her genius emotions reincarnated the picture of that innocent girl…”. Kulis newspaper mentioned “… Suzie Khanjarian performed the torturing image magnificently. She created the image of an innocent girl and her emotional sufferings …”.
Suzie was one of the first graduated students form the Tehran-DJ Ballet School where she learned both classic and folk dance academically. As her final performance she presented a dance based on a piece from Arno Babajanian and received her graduation certificate from her one and only teacher, Anahid Janbazian, in 1984.
Almost two decades has passed from those dreamy days when Ms. Janbazian opened a new horizon for young Suzie. After graduation, she started to work as instructor at the same Ballet school where she had spent eight successful years. After one year, encountering many obstacles Ms. Janbazian left Iran and settled down in the United States of America leaving her rich heritage to 19 years old Suzie who founded Karap.
Suzie followed the footsteps of her trainer for many years diligently revitalized her predecessor's endeavors. She devoted herself in providing extensive training to her pupils with the hope that the services offered would satisfy the great thirst of dance lovers.
As the years advanced, Karap had the opportunity to have performances both in Tehran and in Haigashen, celebrating the religious and ethno-national festivities. They spread their influence to Ararat Cultural Organization and initiated Krung dance ensemble, whose participants later joined Karap. During those years, she lost her beloved father and 4 months later her beloved sister. In response to her pain, she staged a composition called “The Complaint” on a piece from Mozart's Requiem and dedicated it to the memory of her loved ones in 1991.
The first decade of Karap was celebrated in the Komitas Hall of Ararat Cultural Organization. Then she married to Masis Nazarian. After the birth of their baby daughter Rubina, Suzie resumed her activities with more vitality and passion.
Eight years have passed since Karap has firmly been established in the Armenian Charmahal Association of Tehran. Their presentations on various occasions, has attracted hundreds of people who pronounced their tremendous joy to the excellent quality and harmonious composures demonstrated both by the group and by the members.
In the 60th anniversary of Tehran-DJ Ballet Academy, Suzie paid tribute to Ms. Anahid Janbazian expressing her profound gratitude and respect to her former teacher in a jubilant presentation.
