State Ballet of Georgia celebrates famous choreographer Mikhail Fokine

The ballet company of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre (State Ballet of Georgia) will premiere a ballet of one of the greatest 20th Century choreographers this weekend before departing on a tour of performances in Spain.

On April 2 and 3 the company will perform two evenings of works choreographed by Mikhail Fokine (1880-1942). The Friday night performance will feature the Tbilisi premiere of The Firebird.

The show will be performed again in Georgia's capital on April 24 following the troupe's return from its Spanish tour.

State Ballet of Georgia leading soloist Nino Samadashvili will perform in the ballet’s follow-up shows. Photo from the State Ballet of Georgia/Facebook.

The ballet company's performances will pay homage to the Russian choreographer and dancer, who influenced the 20th Century dance with his innovations in staging.

The Firebird, created in 1910, was restored and staged in Tbilisi by celebrated former dancer Andris Liepa, son of the famous Soviet dancer Maris Liepa.

Featuring ballet company soloists Nutsa Chekurashvili and David Ananeli for the maiden show on April 2, the ballet will feature costumes and stage sets restored by designer Anatoly Nezhny.

The Firebird was staged in Tbilisi by former dancer Andris Liepa. Photo from the State Ballet of Georgia/Facebook.

The theatre's artistic director David Kintsurashvili worked as the staging conductor to premiere the ballet to Georgian audiences.

Kintsurashvili will also conduct the theatre's orchestra as it performs the ballet’s score by famed 20th Century composer Igor Stravinsky.

State Ballet of Georgia soloist Philip Fedulov and leading soloist Nino Samadashvili in a rehearsal for ‘The Firebird’. Photo from the State Ballet of Georgia/Facebook.

The State Ballet of Georgia will also perform Les Sylphides and Le Spectre de la rose, two other works by Fokine that have been part of the company’s repertoire after premiering in Tbilisi in 2011 and 2015 respectively.