OVERVIEW
A rare US appearance from this world-class ballet company.
International ballet star Nina Ananiashvili (former prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre) leads this dynamic group with a program of mostly George Balanchine, considered one of the most important choreographers of the last century, accompanied by full orchestra.
Groups
Looking to bring a group of 10 or more? Contact Jeffery Sanders at groupsales@detroitopera.org to save today!
Press
“Georgia, a beautiful mountainous land in the Caucasus mountains between Europe and Asia, is the birthplace of Balanchine’s father, Meliton Balanchivadze. (…) The evening’s high point came after the first intermission, with the Georgian premiere of Balanchine’s 1941 chamber work, Concerto Barocco. (…) Barocco was staged lovingly by Bart Cook and Maria Calegari, and its acquisition subsidized, this reviewer is proud to say, by our own American embassy, under the guidance of ambassador Richard B. Norland. Afterwards at the reception in the theater’s lobby, Cook and his hard-working, now glammed-up young dancers hugged each other in a cathartic finale.”
– Dance Magazine
“Presumably as a result of Ms. Ananiashvili’s training, the Georgian company bears many of her own best dance virtues. These dancers show a clean, unshowy style with none of the flamboyance or exaggerations that have characterized many Kirov and Bolshoi dancers, and plenty of technical strength.”
– The New York Times
“Sagalobeli, created by Yuri Possokhov for this ballet company, was a fine work consisting of various formations. At the beginning, two men emerged onstage in sepia-colored spotlights. Georgian folk songs by an unaccompanied male chorus echoed something plangently lyrical, giving a feeling of unique warmth rooted in life culture.”
– Dance Magazine