Members of Great Leap Anna Djanbazian , choreographer, dancer, and teacher, is from a mixed Persian and Armenian cultural heritage. In 1988, she established the Djanbazian Dance Academy in Glendale where her work continues a legacy from her father, Sarkis Djanbazian, recognized as a National Treasure by the Shah of Iran. They guide teachers in exploring traditional dance, story narrative, and architectural form through improvising and creating group dances. Butler involves educators in exciting and confidence-building art projects using line, color, symbol, language, and form. Creative and critical thinking skills are stimulated as participants are led into explorations of different ways of seeing and mapping that experience with visual imagery.
Teachers connect their personal worlds of ideas and experiences to a broader cultural vision.