Maia Kiknadze, Ketevan Chikladze, Akaki Kvitatiani in Adjarian Dance. (Photo courtesy of Royal National Dance Company)
Warriors dance and twirl, beating on drums and flying nimbly through the air clashing swords, men perform acrobatics, executing Russian-style kazotsky squat kicks and pirouetting on their knees.
Created by Gela Potskhishvili, 45, Knight of the Georgian Order of Honor, it's just a taste of te exuberance the Royal National Dance Ballet of Georgia brings to the stage.
The company's “Fire of Georgia” tour comes to the North Miami Beach Julius Littman Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 26.
Potskhishvili, the company’s co-founder, and co-director, along with his wife, prima ballerina and artistic director of the show, Maya Kiknadze, and her National Ballet, a folkloric ballet troupe, work to promote traditional Georgian folk culture.
In 2006 the couple founded DanceAcademy, Georgia’s first professional dance school, in which Potskhishvili serves as artistic director and chief ballet master. Kiknadze‘s specialty is in classic and feature dances. The Academy currently has 500 enrollees and has toured around the world.
Formerly a part of the Soviet Union, the country gained its independence in 1991 and boasts an ancient, rich and varied folk tradition, representing different regions and aspects of Georgian life. Georgians are known as much for their ancient warriors as well as their hospitality, love of life, lively intelligence and sense of humor, much of which is evident in the dance numbers.
At the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, located on the Black Sea in the Caucasus Mountains, the Democratic State of Georgia sits near Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. With influences from Turkey and Persia, the country is diverse in its culture, as evidenced in its dance.
Nino Cekurashvili in the Old Tbilisi Mukhambazi Dance. (Photo courtesy of the Royal National Dance Company)
“For decades, audiences around the world have been mesmerized by the dexterity, acrobatics, stunts, grace and skill effortlessly executed by the performers in The Royal National Ballet,” says Leonid Fleishaker, who is producing this American tour.
“With exciting and varied choreography, the 'Fire of Georgia' combines perfectly synchronized movements of the troupe, with the stunning romanticism of courting couples who float gracefully across the stage,” he says.
Based in the capital city of Tbilsi, and created by Kiknadze, the choreography fuses classical, modern and folk dance elements from various regions of the country, highlighting the temperament of the male dancers and the grace, charm and elegance of the female counterparts. Staging is divided into classic Georgian dance, modern and world people dances.
Potskhishvili began dancing at the age of six at the Youth Palace Dance Studio known as Merani and later joined Dance Theater Metekhi, founded by his father, Gelodi Potskhishvili in 1978 and in 1996 became its solo dancer and choreographer.
He appeared on stages around the world as a dancer, as well as choreographer and in 2008, Potskhishvili founded the Royal National Ballet of Georgia.
In its current incarnation, this is the ballet troupe’s first tour of the United States.
Nino Chekyrashvili in Mukhambazi Dance. (Photo courtesy of Royal National Dance Company)
Potskhishvili spoke through soloist Salome Abashidze, 30, acting as interpreter. Studying under Potskhishvili since she was eight years old, Abashidze says he was her first and only instructor.
The troupe will give 19 concerts throughout the country and was excited that their first performance in Texas received a standing ovation.
“American audiences understand what we are trying to do,” says Potskhishvili through his interpreter.
'We want to showcase our culture, country, people and regions to the audiences in the U.S.," he says. “Although Georgia is a small and ancient country we have a rich history and culture, influenced by the Byzantine Empire, Turkey and ancient Persia.”
“We have taken inspiration from our past history, created new choreography and integrated it to create a modern and exciting piece for our audiences,” Potskhishvili says, noting that the production includes a large-scale dance company and more than 370 hand-made costumes reflecting all the varieties of cultures and traditions in Georgia.
Irakli Gakharia Ketevan Chikhladze in Ossetian Dance. (Photo courtesy of Royal National Dance Company)
Asked what they're most looking forward to seeing in their first visit to Miami, Potskhishvili replies, "The warmth, the ocean and the sun."
He hopes to leave a lasting impression on the city and its people.
“You can feel the spirit of Georgia in our dance and music our history, customs, traditions and peoples,” he says. “The dance is energetic, dynamic and dramatic. I wanted to create a modern and exciting production for our American audiences.”
“I hope people will come out to see our dance and learn a little bit about the people and culture of The Democratic State of Georgia,” he says.
The Royal National Ballet of Georgia brings its “Fire of Georgia” tour to the Julius Littman Performing Arts Center, 17011 NE 19th Ave., North Miami Beach, at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 26. Doors open at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from $49-$69. For information and tickets, call (347) 244-1525 or showimpulse.com.
