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burden. First of all, quite unexpectedly, aggressive words Among the population of the country, which was forced
were expressed towards the ballet art – some representatives to take care of physical survival, there still appeared people,
of the new power made quite astounding statements that who wanted their children to see as dancers, despite of
ballet was inacceptable for the Georgian “soul”, the Georgian the situation when in this field of art no perspective was
woman should not appear on the stage half-naked. It’s good seen for any advance in the career… However, the School
that such “wisdom” failed to be continued, as this could have teachers and authorities managed to mobilize their efforts
irreparable damage – for example, closing of the School. and to stage the passages from the ballets “The Sleeping
This seemed possible, because in that period many factories, Beauty”, “Giselle”, for the graduation parties. The graduates
mills, enterprises and establishments were closed. Transport performed “Chopiniana”, and “The Swallow”, “Dreams of
did not work; gas and electricity gradually disappeared and the Rose”, “Seasons of the Year”, “The Morning Saar” and
cold domineered in flats, services and schools. However, the “Samaya”.
Choreographic School still continued functioning. It was a real It should be stressed that in 2001 the School founded the
public heroism on the part of teachers and students. They were International Festival “Chabukiani – Balanchine”. It opened
well aware of the responsibility they had before the creators in June 2001 and was dedicated to the 85th anniversary
of the Georgian art and Choreographic School. One of the of the Vakhtang Chabukiani Tbilisi Ballet Art State School.
oldest centers of choreographic education in Transcaucasia The Festival participants arrived from France, Russia,
should not be closed. In 1999-2001 the School was headed Japan, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, and Albania. The guests and,
by Baram Baramidze and Nugzar Makhateli, who was on this of course the Georgian hosts glorified the School. Many
position only one year (1991-1992). The School no longer of them became laureates of the Festival and diploma
had artistic director and this, surely, had its influence on the holders: Nino Gogua, Gabriel Gogua, Maya Makhateli,
educational process, more because the financing was too Lasha Khozashvili, Temur Suliashvili, Olga Kuznetsova,
minor, the amount of salaries caused tearful laugh of people … Victoria Kikabidze, Maya Iluridze, Shorena Khaindrava,
And still the School lived its life and left the possibility that if life Nino Makhashvili, Eka Marshania, Tamar Jashiashvili,
improved in the country, all should not be built again. and Tamar Jibuti. The competent jury members were the
Greatest attention should be paid to the fact that after ballet art theorists and practicians – Vera Tsignadze, Giorgi
Chabukiani’s death, the School principal Nugzar Makhateli Aleksidze, Vyacheslav Gordeev, Eter Gugushvili, Tamaz
appealed to the Ministry of Culture with the request to Vashakidze, Zurab Kikaleishvili, Maka Makharadze, Liliana
attach Chabukiani’s name to the School…and from 1992 Mitaishvili, Irine Jandieri, Tsiskari Balanchivadze, Ana
the School carries this proud name. Teachers and students Tsereteli, Vitali Akhundov and Leonid Nadirov. The Festival
of this School understand well honor and responsibility for jury awarded not only the young dancers, but marked the
carrying this name. greatest contribution of the ballet legendary dancers Vera
Tsignadze and Zurab Kikaleishvili to the Georgian art.
The Festival was surely a valuable undertaking and it
HARD TIMES was supposed it would continue in the future, but sometimes
it happens so that a person is mistaken and does what is not
58 In this heavy period the School was headed by Tamaz expected from others, but even from his own self. The same
Vashakidze – graduate of this School, Chabukiani’s student. happened in the case with Tamaz Vashakidze. Unfortunately