KARTULI. Romantic dance
The Sukhishvili National Ballet of Georgia is a dance company with a long history that has preserved the traditions of authentic Georgian dance to this day. Named after its founders Iliko and Nino Sukhishvili, the company remains very popular today, just as it was almost a century ago. The team is ruled by the Sukhishvili dynasty and now it’s headed by the grandchildren of the founders, Iliko and Nino Sukhishvili Jr. Thanks to their dedication, the art of Georgian national dance remains at the peak of its popularity.
During the ballet's existence, millions of people have attended its performances on the most prestigious theater and concert stages in the world. Consequently, the Sukhishvili surname has become a symbol of virtuosity, skill and immense talent.
The performance of the Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet is a captivating story of Georgia, told through a variety of unique dances. This is what makes the concert program dynamic and absolutely unforgettable.
The dangerous dances of Georgian men astonish with dizzying choreography, the synchronicity of incredible high-speed rotations in the air and on the ground, jumps that defy the laws of gravity and fill the stage with the most powerful energy. You will see sparks flying from the sabers in the hands of the dancers soar through the air.
Women in luxurious dresses move with the grace of angels as if floating above the stage. Sukhishvili's signature style is paired male and female choreography, which includes an element of seduction – the famous male dance on the toes, because in Georgia it has long been considered unacceptable to kneel in front of a pretty woman, but dancing on the toes was a special chic and sophistication.
Moreover, they are the only men in the world who can perform both standing, jumping and landing on their toes in soft leather boots — a great skill they begin learning at the age of five and perfect throughout their lives.
Additionally, one can admire a collection of costumes that inspired Saint Laurent and Dior. All of them are made of exclusive natural fabrics and are decorated with silk embroidery, stones, and metal.
The National Ballet of Georgia, "Sukhishvili", dances to their original live music performed by their orchestra, which plays rare instruments. The musicians of the orchestra have a special technique that is not taught elsewhere but is passed down from generation to generation.
“Sukhishvili, for all its acrobatics and occasional swordfighting, possesses a refined esthetic, from the live musicians on stage with drums, flutes, guitar and accordion, to the poise of the dancers, with their lifted, dignified bearing...”
“The combination of lively music, shows of strength, tornado-fast spins, jumps, swords, shields and daggers for male dancers, matched with the gliding and elegant movements of female performers in vibrantly colored costumes make...”
“The Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili” began as a family enterprise, has survived communist oppression, the Cold War, the break-up of the Soviet Union and has grown into an internationally renowned company”.
