GEORGIAN STATE DANCE COMPANY FROM THE FORMER SOVIET
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
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From the former Soviet
Republic of Georgia, the Georgian State
Dance Company has performed to over 50 million
people in 87 countries.
In 1990 the performances
of the Georgian State Dance Company was
announced as the "Best show of the Year
on Broadway".
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Georgia is known to many as the
California of the Soviet Union, because of its
rich, fertile land, sunny valleys, majestic forests
and not least of all, it's excellent wine! Not
surprising then, this poetic land is expressed
in many ballads, poems, songs and dances.
Visitors are often surprised
when they arrive in Georgia to find a feeling
of having entered a completely different country.
They have indeed entered a completely different
culture. From the mountains to the market place
Georgia is a country that draws people back again
and again.
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The beauty and originality
of the Georgian folk dances is perhaps due
to their ability to reflect so many different
aspects of Georgian life. They are divided
according to their origin and content into
ritual and ceremonial, work, game, and comic
dances.
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The advent of Christianity in Georgia
during the first half of the 4th century and,
at the same time, the survival of paganism in
certain remote mountain districts, have similarly
had an influence on Georgian Folk Dances.
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In form, Georgian dances
are divided into solo, pair and group. Each
dancer has to subordinate to the requirements
of a common plan and it's expression in
the dance. At the same time the performers
do not lose their individuality, since several
dances demand competition between partners
in strength, agility, elevation and bold
movements.
The role of female dancers
is an interesting one. The woman never openly
tries to attract her partners' attention
in the dance - as though she does not wish
to be noticed by him.
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She appears unaware of her partner’s
tender feelings, maintaining an attitude of distance
and awareness of her beauty. In the new folk dance’s,
which have been created in the last 20 or 30 years,
a change has been noticed in the pattern of women's
dances. They have acquired more liveliness, boldness
and energy of movements without infringing, however,
on the traditional strictness of the dancer’s
conduct.
The male dancers can boast a
highly original technique. Unlike any other dancers
in the world, they dance on their toes and without
the aid of "block" shoes. In the women's dances,
in contrast to classical ballet, dancing on pointes
is unknown.
GEORGIAN STATE DANCE COMPANY PRODUCTIONS &
PERFORMANCES
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Georgian State Dance Company
- Live from London (VIDEO) |
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