Ukrainian dancer stranded in Georgia due to war joins Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet troupe
Hailing from Zaporozhye, the city in south-east of Ukraine on the Dnieper River, Vidisheva was looking for a job as a teacher in Tbilisi due to her inability to return home. Photo via Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet
Tweet 
Share
Ukrainian dancer Olha Vidisheva, who got stranded in Georgia due to the outbreak of hostilities in her country following the Russian invasion, has joined the troupe of Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet and will feature in its upcoming performances.
In an interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s daily programme Rush Hour, Mariam Aleksidze, the founder and Artistic Director of the company, said the move had been made to support the 21-year-old dance professional by providing her with an “opportunity to overcome the pain” caused by the war, in addition to supporting the people of Ukraine amid the military conflict.
The Ukrainian performer will be offered an opportunity to work on contemporary dance techniques with the group and “bring new experiences and knowledge to the homeland [after her return],” Aleksidze said.
The initiative comes from Aleksidze and troupe Director Davit Maziashvili, with the former noting the ballet troupe would continue to support Vidisheva “as long as she needs to.” Aleksidze also highlighted the significance of expressing solidarity to Ukraine "through specific actions".
Hailing from Zaporozhye, the city in south-east of Ukraine on the Dnieper River, Vidisheva was looking for a job as a teacher in Tbilisi due to her inability to return home.
She came across the information on the Tbilisi company on the internet, and soon after was offered the position. The 21-year-old said the opportunity “exceeded my expectations, and I am very happy,” expressing her gratitude and noting she would not cut ties with Georgia after she returns to Ukraine following the conflict.
Founded in 2016 by Tbilisi City Hall, Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet is named after Giorgi Aleksidze, a choreographer who led the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre troupe in the 1990s. The troupe promotes contemporary classical dance in Georgia through productions premiering with experimental approach.
A three-show bill will mark the latest premiere of Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet in the capital next week, with founder and artistic director Mariam Aleksidze bringing to the stage of the city's Royal District Theatre the first instalment in the Bach Project series of the troupe.
Late Georgian choreographer Giorgi Aleksidze, who led the ballet troupe of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre in the 1990s, will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Order of Excellence later today for "outstanding contribution" to the country's professional dance scene.
Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet is working to premiere their latest work, a "multimedia ballet" involving experimental media and dancers of the troupe, at a Tbilisi location recently redesignated from a detention facility to a contemporary art space.
Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet and the Giorgi Aleksidze Foundation will be joining a series of international events marking 700 years since the death of Dante Alighieri when the troupe hosts its audience this month for the premiere of Beatrice, a new production inspired by the epic The Divine Comedy by the Italian philosopher and poet.
Ukrainian oboist Marianna Oleksun, who hails from the country’s southeastern port city of Mariupol, has joined Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra at the initiative of the Culture Ministry of Georgia, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reported on Tuesday.
The first offline private auction of NFT paintings illustrating the Ukraine war will be held in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi this week, with funds raised during the event to be used in support of the country under the ongoing Russian invasion.
Ireland's Bloomsday Film Festival will mark the centenary of the publication of Ulysses by James Joyce with a programme featuring short films including Lucia's Room, a production of the Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet troupe, next month.
Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet has launched its new season with a performance of a miniature by the troupe's artistic director Mariam Aleksidze and featuring its dancer Mariam Koiava at the Jerusalem Solo Dance Festival on Tuesday.
Pedro Carneiro, the former Director of Lisbon's National Conservatory Dance School, has been appointed Manager of State Ballet of Georgia, assuming the administerial position alongside the troupe's Artistic Director Nina Ananiashvili.
Alessandra Ferri and Marcelo Gomes, two stars of world ballet, will be joined by the troupe of the Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine in an evening dedicated to the country at this year's Tbilisi Ballet Festival.