Best of Balanchine:
Georgian dancer Maia Makhateli shines in Dutch ballet program

Georgian dancer Maia Makhateli is featuring among leading dancers of the Dutch National Ballet for the company's latest performances of some of the most acclaimed works by revered late choreographer George Balanchine.

Makhateli starred in all four of the Balanchine ballets - Apollon Musagete, Tarantella, Stravinsky Violin Concerto and Theme and Variations - since the launch of the program ‘Best of Balanchine’ on March 25.

The shows were hailed as "astounding", "meticulous" and "beauty in its true form" by ballet-goers who attended the March 25-31 performances.

Maia Makhateli (L) photographed alongside principal dancer Young Gyu Choi, soloist Suzanna Kaic and principal dancer Anna Ol of the Dutch National Ballet. Photo from Suzanna Kaic/Facebook.

Makhateli was partnered by principals of the Dutch company Remi Wortmeyer, Jozef Varga and Artur Shesterikov.

The acclaimed Georgian dancer will appear in 10 more shows, including a role in Theme and Variations later today, before the program concludes on April 10.

The full program of Makhateli's upcoming appearances is:

April 1: Theme and Variations

April 2, 8, 10: Tarantella

April 2, 8, 10: Stravinsky Violin Concerto

April 3, 6, 9: Apollon Musagete

See reactions of audiences to the ballets in the ‘Best of Balanchine’ program below:

The ballets represent four of the most celebrated works by the famous 20th Century choreographer, whose influence on the development of ballet resulted in the emergence of the "neoclassical" style that is now credited to him.

Born in Russia in 1904 to popular Georgian composer Meliton Balanchivadze, George Balanchine graduated from the Imperial Ballet School in St Petersburg in 1921 but later fled to Europe along with three other dancers during their 1924 tour to Germany.

He was later invited to the United States by prominent arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, with whom Balanchine founded the now-famous School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet company.

More details on the Dutch National Ballet's program ‘Best of Balanchine’ can be found on the company's official website here.