Roman epic adapted for Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet’s first premiere of the year

Metamorphoses, a literary masterpiece of the Roman era, will join modern dance and sound in the latest premiere of Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet in Georgia’s capital next week.

A bill of six shows launching on March 2 will cast dancers from the troupe founded by Mariam Aleksidze and will be accompanied by music by Johann Sebastian Bach and contemporary producer Nika Machaidze.

Marking the first premiere of the year for the company launched in 2016, Metamorphoses will present their collaboration with Silk Factory cinema and television studio.

See moments from the company’s rehearsals for the new production below:

Along with dancers of the company’s roster, the production will also involve interns of the troupe and Sukhishvilebi Georgian National Ballet artists.

Their performance in a multitude of the staging’s characters will be matched by design by Ana Ninua and sound design by Machaidze.

Metamorphoses is based on an 8AD work of the same name by Roman poet Ovid, who covered the world history in a mythical framework used for the poem.

See fragments from works for preparing the stage for the new premiere below:

It has been considered one of the Western literary scene’s most influential creations and has been translated into English in numerous editions starting in 1480.

The Tbilisi dance company’s work on the stage adaptation of the epic has also marked the launch of their effort to share behind-the-scenes insight on their productions with fans.

Social media followers of the troupe have been able to see videos of public talks about the original literary piece and showcases of the Silk Factory Studio’s venue for the performance, in the company’s informational series.

‘Metamorphoses’ is choreographed by the company’s founder Mariam Aleksidze. Photo: Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet/Silk Factory Studio.

Formed by Aleksidze, daughter of late Georgian choreographer Giorgi Aleksidze, the Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet was founded with the dual aim of preserving the latter’s choreographic legacy and provide a platform for young choreographers and dancers in Georgia’s capital.

Established with support from Tbilisi City Hall, the company became the first Georgian contemporary ballet troupe with official state support.

The bill of Metamorphoses will run in Tbilisi through March 11.