GEORGIAN STATE DANCE COMPANY

Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
October 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

These 80 dancers and musicians present an exuberant look at the unique culture of the Republic of Georgia. The performance features ceremonial, work, game, and comic dances – including a sword dance, complete with flying sparks.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
Phone: (312) 902-1500
group 10+: (312) 431-2357
online: www.auditoriumtheatre.org , www.ticketmaster.com
Auditorium Theatre box office. 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605
See some video on www.youtube.com

THE GEORGIAN STATE DANCE COMPANY KICKS OFF
THE 2007-2008 INTERNATIONAL DANCE SERIES AT
AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER 6 AT 7:30 P.M.

Multifaceted Aspects of Georgian Life Reflected Through
Ritual, Ceremonial and Comic Dances

CHICAGO — With a whirlwind of bravura dancing, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (ATRU) is pleased to kick off its 2007-2008 International Dance series with a performance by The Georgian State Dance Company. For one night only, Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m., the audience at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, will be treated to a unique look at the traditional folk dances that reflect the multifaceted cultural aspects of Georgia, an Eastern European nation and former Soviet Republic. The Georgian State Dance Company showcases strength, agility and bold movement in a wide array of explosive ceremonial, work, game and comic dance types, including a spectacular sword dance complete with flying sparks.

“The range and originality of folk dances performed by The Georgian State Dance Company are a beautiful reflection of the very unique culture and history of the former Republic of Georgia,” said Brett Batterson, executive director, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. “We are thrilled that The Georgian State Dance Company will share with our audience such a diverse range of dance styles, which truly complements the diversity we enjoy in the great city of Chicago.”

The Georgian State Dance Company has traveled around the world, performing to more than 50 million people in 87 countries and receiving rave reviews along the way. Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times wrote, “The audience becomes delirious when the men dance on their toes in soft boots, gallantly escorting a partner or exploding into double air-turns to land on toe, shins and knees. These steps may be theatricalized, but they come out of a national heritage…No one will dare suggest the Georgians have anything but a fierce sense of identity.” Andrew Patner of Chicago Sun-Times wrote that The Georgian State Dance Company “had even the greatest of fans of ethnic dancing ensembles cheering as if they were at a sporting event.”

The performance is expected to include:
Partsa, based on a traditional festival dance. The most striking element is a “live tower” in which male dancers stand on each other’s shoulders and move around in a circle.
Khevsuruli, the dance of the Georgian mountain village performed with swords. When the battle reaches its peak, the girl takes off her headdress and throws it between the warriors. According to tradition, the duelers immediately stop their fight. The choreographic scene displays the profound respect of stern men for a fair lady.
Simdi, a wedding dance based on rhythmic alterations of black and white, with a strict graphic outline and exact mirror symmetry. A beautiful melody accompanies two rows of dancers, with men in black long-sleeved chokhas and women in white airy dresses.
Shejibri, a competition in bravery and courage. Each man dances and jumps on the tips of his toes in unhardened boots.
Zekari, a modern dance with a folk base that utilizes traditional Georgian movements.

These and many more selections of traditional Georgian folk dances are performed by a company of 80 dancers, and choreographed by the team of Tengiz Sukhishvili and Nina Ramishvili. Chief Choreographer Ramishvili trained as a classical dancer and joined the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Company in 1927, performing as a soloist in classics including Swan Lake and Don Quixote.

Georgian dances are divided into solo, pair and group pieces, yet the individual dancers do not lose their individuality, since several dances demand competition between partners. The males are renowned for their bravura dancing and explosive masculinity, while the role of the female dancers is to maintain an attitude of aloof independence, as though she does not want to openly attract attention from her male partner.

This performance is made possible by the generous support of Seymour Persky. The Auditorium Theatre is also supported by the Illinois Arts Council and the Chicago CityArts program.

The Georgian State Dance Company kicks off the 2007-2008 International Dance Series at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 / $40 / $50 / $59. Subscribers receive a 10% discount; call (312) 431-2357 for subscription information. For tickets, visit the Auditorium Theatre Box Office at 50 E. Congress Parkway, call (312) 902-1500, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.auditoriumtheatre.org. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available by calling (312) 431-2357.

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The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E. Congress Parkway, is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural and community programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call (312) 922-2110 or visit auditoriumtheatre.org, now featuring Chicago’s Landmark Stage, a comprehensive online history of the Auditorium from 1889 through today, made possible by the generous support of the American Express Performing Arts Fund.