Premiere Georgian Dance Ensemble

The National Ballet of Georgia was founded by Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili in 1945. It was first officially known as the State Dance Ensemble of Georgia. Nino Ramishvili was captivated by classical ballet and traditional folk dances, and started dancing when she was 14. Her husband Iliko worked for the Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi, and he turned out to be a man who could see the future. He wanted to show the rest of the Soviet Union that Georgia, although small in size, has a unique and rich cultural heritage. Nino Ramishvili and Iliko Sukhishvili became inseparable partners on stage and in life. Their life together was filled with creative inspiration, which they fully realized on stage.

The history of the Georgian Dance Ensemble is shrouded in legends and tales. Sukhishvili, who is said to have performed all his dances in Stalin’s office and later was allowed to set up a dance ensemble, claimed that they were all folk dances. When Stalin said, “Ask anything you want,” the choreographer replied: “Your photo and signature.” According to another story, Nino Ramishvili often danced male parts, donning men’s clothing and wearing makeup so that no one could recognize her.

Today, the world-acclaimed dance ensemble has the status of “National Ballet of Georgia” and is under the able guidance of the third Sukhishvili-Ramishvili generation, with People’s Artiste of Georgia Tengiz Sukhishvili as artistic director and the rest of the family, his wife and both grandsons, working on the programs. The group is made up of 70 dancers and has its own orchestra. It has been applauded in 88 countries. It boasts an almost 60-year history. Over the years the group’s popularity has grown so much that it was named the best show on Broadway in 1990 and has become an unofficial ambassador of Georgia. The National Ballet of Georgia is the only folk dance group to have been granted the privilege of performing at La Scala, where the show caused a sensation. The dancers were given 14 encores, beating Enrico Caruso’s record of 11 encores.

The Georgian dance group has outlasted all fashion trends without turning into a an historical relic. Every concert consists of a dozen miniature musical dramas united by the inexhaustible energy and inimitable beauty of Caucasian dances. The sharp distinction between the men’s and women’s performances is the main characteristic of Georgian choreography.

The dances feature warriors and hunters, roughnecks and show-offs recklessly competing for strength and dexterity, while fair ladies glide around like swans or like heavenly princesses walking on clouds. Whereas the dzhigits [a cross between a medieval knight and a Wild West cowboy] are enemies and rivals, the charming maidens are always in accord with each other and thus act as arbiters. A handkerchief thrown down stops a bloody duel. It’s a very ancient tradition, and the dances that Sukhishvili and Ramishvili borrowed from the various Caucasian peoples have become classics. Since their debut, Georgian dancers have never failed to captivate audiences all over the world with their amazing choreography, lightning turns, and head-spinning leaps that fill the stage with dynamic energy. A combination of bravado and gracefulness make their program absolutely unique and unforgettable. The costumes designed by the famous Simon Virsaladze make the whole thing look like a refined fairy tale ballet. It’s one of those cases of “seeing is believing.” The Ukraine Palace will host the National Ballet of Georgia on April 8-9, as part of the Year of Georgia in Ukraine and the dance group’s 60th anniversary. The concerts are being held under the patronage of Ukraine’s First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko and her Georgian counterpart, Mrs. Sandra Rulofs.