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new name, probably, saved both Perini and the School from the opinions of the intellectuals of the country were still
the bloody terror of the Bolsheviks. They would, probably, taken into account, because in 1937 the protected and the
avoid the state establishment than a private one… Who protectors could be equally punished severely to frighten
knows? others not to express their opinions loudly against injustice.
It is most important that in Georgia after in 1851, when To leave only one school in the country (if we don’t consider
the Opera Theater was formed, Italian and Russian dancers A. Alilov’s Batumi school, which was soon also closed) had
used to arrive on guest performances for the whole season its political reason – thus was easier to exercise control on
or to live. They arrived, in frequent cases, after performing one school and its teachers, and also to force educational
in the Russian theaters. This could also be understood – life programs and methodology brought from Moscow, which
of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theater was inseparable was the practice over 70 years of the Soviet Union existence.
from Russia and that was really good … This time also (like Directives arrived from Moscow as who should study and
Mephistopheles) the bad they wished turned into the good: how the teaching should be conducted, how one could act,
the Italian ballet teachers were considered to be the best what one could say and think. For example, it is enough to
then, especially those, which passed the Russian stage. say that Stanislavsky’s system, one of the best methods for
In the Russian ballet organically was merged virtuoso training the actors, “was appointed as an obligatory guiding
technique of the Italian ballet school, dramatics, expressive dogma and all, which did not share this method, were simply
manner and French airiness, the technique in use of executed. In short, Perini’s School fully shared hardships of
pointes, which forms a feeling of weightlessness, ability to life of “the great Soviet Union”, but still managed to educate
display the feelings, moods naturally in moves. Just these the generations of the most splendid dancers.
very skills were brought to Tbilisi by Italian Maria Perini The chance to further develop the School and strengthen
and started their introduction in the School. Probably this its position increased more, when under the initiative of
saved the School, which established its own permanent the then state opera commissar, famous director and less
place, when in the 20s of last century more than 20 schools authoritative person among the authorities Aleksandre
existed. Worthy rivals of Perini were only the studio- Tsutsunava, the State Ballet School was founded. Maria
schools of M. Mordkin, A. Bravour and A. Moiseev., which Perini was appointed to the position of head of this School.
educated renowned masters: T. Vikhodtseva, M. Buligina, It happened on 11 October 1920. 185 students studied at
V. Gamsakhurdia and others, who largely contributed the School then. The Rustaveli theater Hall of Mirrors could not
Georgian ballet and teaching. V. Gamsakhurdia worked accommodate so many students. If we compare histories of
not only in the Choreographic School, but in the Theatrical this new School and other oldest and finest schools, we’ll
Institute as well. In 1923, all Tbilisi ballet, plastic, European, see a great difference in social belongings of the students.
Oriental and Caucasian studio-schools were closed. For example, if in the Paris Academy of Art, Moscow and
Maria Perini’s School once more survived and, probably, St Petersburg choreographic schools studied orphans, the
the Georgian ballet too. Famous Georgian directors Kote children of former actors and comparatively low sections
Marjanishvili and Aleksandre Tsutsunava, composer Meliton of the society( as the profession of actors was considered
Balanchivadze, playwright and theater figure Shalva Dadiani disgraceful), Perini’s School was attended by the children of
had great opinion of this School and in this case this fact the most famous families of Tbilisi. These were the families 45
played a great role. It was good that it was 1923 then and of doctors, lawyers, musicians, and teachers. Special