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In 2004 the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet of Tamaz Vashakidze” theatre of modern dance Tamaz Vashakidze produced the ballet “The Big Waltz” to the music by Johann Strauss. The first performance took place — for the first time ever! — in Balanchine’s home country on the 22nd of January 2004 at the Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet as part of “George Balanchine Memorial Night” and was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his great compatriot, as well as to Vakhtang Chabukiani’s anniversary.

Video clips

“The Memorial Night” at the Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet was honored by G. Balanchine’s nephew maestro Jarji Balanchivadze, who played on piano a medley from the works of Strauss.

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Jarji Balanchivadze

2005, Moscow, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall

In 2005 by invitation of the Agency for Culture and Cinematography of Russia the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet of Tamaz Vashakidze” theatre Tamaz Vashakidze in co-operation with the “Russian Ballet” theatre (artistic director Vyacheslav Gordeev) produced the ballet “The Big Waltz”. Its world first night took place in Moscow in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.

Video clips

The ballet “The Big Waltz” to the music by Johann Strauss is dedicated to George Balanchine. The choreography and production were performed by the People's Artist of Georgia, award winner of the “Chabukiani-Balanchine...” International Festival Tamaz Vashakidze. Costume designer was Anna Kalatozashvili.

Characters and performers: Artist — soloist of the ballet company of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, award winner of an international contest Andrey Evdokimov. Muse — soloist of the “Russian Ballet” Theatre, award winner of the Russian Ballet Dancing Contest Lyudmila Konovalova. Other characters were performed by artists of the “Russian Ballet” Theatre.

The video was produced in 2005 at the first performance of the ballet in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (Moscow).

2006, Ekaterinburg, Opera and Ballet Theatre

In 2006 the first night of the ballet “The Big Waltz” took place at the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Scene from performance “The Big Waltz”

Scene from performance “The Big Waltz”

2012, Almaty, Opera and Ballet Theatre

In 2012 “The Big Waltz” transferred to the stage of the Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Scene from performance in Almaty

Scene from performance in Almaty

Press about performance

BALLET GENIUSES

The students of the Vakhtang Chabukiani Tbilisi Ballet Art School paid a tribute to the memory of George Balanchine by the performance “The Big Waltz”. The ballet composition to the music by Johann Strauss was staged by the director of the School Tamaz Vashakidze.
Before the performance the composer and pianist Jarji Balanchivadze introduced the audience to the magic world of the Vienna classic, who played medley from Strauss’s works.

Inna BEZIRGANOVA, 04.03.2004, portal “Georgia: Gruzia”
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WALTZ ABOUT WALTZ

Balanchine's creative credo — “See the music, hear the dance” — Tamaz Vashakidze, who truly “see” the music, tried to translate in “The Big waltz”.

Helen BRUSILOVSKY, 22.06.2012, “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda”
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