- New Georgian Ballet
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"New Georgian Ballet" theatre of modern dance. Scene from show
New Georgian Ballet — non-repertory theatre of modern dance, founded by georgian choreographer Tamaz Vashakidze in Tbilisi, Georga, in 1993.
The Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev was an aesthetic guideline for newborn theatre. An organizing principle was non-repertory project.
Contents
The debut
Tamaz Vashakidze became its artistic director. Art director was Maka Makharadze and tutors were People’s Artists of Georgia Vera Tsignadze and Revaz Magalashvili.
The first number which was produced in newborn theatre was a number “We begin” on medley from products of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Wagner, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liszt (with sound of kremlin chimes at the beginning). The performers: artistic leader of “New Georgian Ballet” Tamaz Vashakidze and art director Maka Makharadze. Artist on light Vladislav Vlasov (who is technical director of Tovstonogov BDT today), artist on suit Eka Turmanidze. The first-night took place in 1993 in Tbilisi academic theatre of the opera and ballet, the first show outside Georgia — in the same year in St. Petersburg state conservatory.
The theatre’s debut took place in 1994 with the first performance of the production “Class-Concert” at the International Ballet Festival in Aspendos, Turkey. The debut featured ballet artists of the Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet: M. Zurashvili, E. Bezirgani, Yu. Sorokin, K. Muhashavriya, L. Bakhtadze, L. Chkhikvishvili, M. Chikovani, K. Bakradze, L. Khozashvili, O. Kuznetsova, N. Ochiauri, C. Cholokashvili, P. Khelashvili, Amaglobeli, M. Alpaidze, N. Godziashvili, N. Lozovaya, I. Fomenko, N. Kupunia, M. Aleksidze, K. Kvitsiani, N. Dzhigauri, V. Tsignadze, G. Kukuladze, A. Tsereteli, P. Godziashvili, Z. Revazishvili, V. Vlasov. This was the first tour in Turkey through the whole history of Georgian ballet.
Productions
From 1993 to 2008 director and choreography director of the theatre of modern dance "New Georgian Ballet" Tamaz Vashakidze produced 11 ballet performances:
- 1993. One-act performance "Loneliness" to the music by Gustav Mahler.
- 1993. Performance "Class-Concert" to the music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Gustav Mahler, Ludwig Minkus etc.
- 1994. "Variations" to the theme by Alfred Schnittke.
- 1995. "Bolero" to the music by Maurice Ravel.
- 1996. "Improvisations" to the music by Ray Charles.
- 1999. Suite "Iavnana" to the music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
- 2002. One-act performance "Prodigal Son" to the music by Bidzina Kvernadze (co-directed by Kote Makharadze).
- 2004. Performance "Mata Hari"[1] to the music by Sergei Prokofiev and Gogi Dzodzuashvili, and the songs by Edith Piaf.
- 2004. Performance "The Big Waltz"[2] to the music by Johann Strauss.
- 2006. "Polyphony" to the music by Gogi Dzodzuashvili.
- 2007. Performance "The Knight" — the first in Georgian history choreographic interpretation Shota Rustaveli's poem "The Knight in Tiger Skin".
Mata Hari
The year of 2004 was marked by production of the drama performance “Mata Hari” to the music by Sergei Prokofiev and Gogi Dzodzuashvili, as well as the songs by Edith Piaf. This production combined drama and classic ballet art.
Director-producer: Tamaz Vashakidze (the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet” theatre of modern dance). Designers: Anka Kalatozashvili and Guga Kotetishvili. Starring: Mata Hari — winner of the International Ballet Artists Award, Georgian ballet star Lali Kandelaki. Other ballet performers: Irakli Shengelia, Michail Menabde, Irakli Bahtadze, Lasha Hozashvili. Drama artists: Nika Tavadze, Kaha Bakuradze, Zaal Chikobiva, Erik Bablidze.
The Big Waltz
In 2004 the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet” theatre of modern dance Tamaz Vashakidze produced the ballet “The Big Waltz” to the music by Johann Strauss. The first performance took place — for the first time ever! — in Balanchine’s home country on the 22nd of January 2004 at the Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet as part of “George Balanchine Memorial Night” and was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his great compatriot, as well as to Vakhtang Chabukiani’s anniversary.
In 2005 by invitation of the Agency for Culture and Cinematography of Russia the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet” theatre Tamaz Vashakidze in co-operation with the “Russian Ballet” theatre (artistic director Vyacheslav Gordeev) produced the ballet “The Big Waltz”. Its world first night took place in Moscow in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
In 2006 the first night of the ballet “The Big Waltz” took place at the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
References
External links
- Web site of the "New Georgian Ballet" theatre of modern dance
- "New Georgian Ballet" in FaceBook
- “Mata Hari” in YouTube (7 parts)
- “The Big Waltz” in YouTube (15 parts)
Categories:- Ballet in Georgia (country)
- Russian ballet
- Ballet companies
- Performing groups established in 1993
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