Iris Karayan was born in Athens. She studied dance at the Greek State School of Dance and completed an MA in Performance and Culture (Goldsmiths College) in the UK.

She is the founding member and choreographer of ZITA Dance Company (2002). Her works The Forest (2003), Self portrait (2005-09), Domestic animals (2008), A time to mourn (2009), LEG ACY (2010), CRACK (2010), Mothers (2012) have been shown in Athens, Thessaloniki, Bucharest, London, Poland, Serbia, France (Pau), Italy (Bologna), Switzerland (Zurich).

She currently teaches choreography at the Greek State School of Dance.

In 2010 she was awarded with the 1st prize of the Jarmila Jebrakova award in NEW EUROPE FESTIVAL 2010, for her works A time to mourn and LEG ACY.