Probably there are no people in the world who do not know what Georgian dance is. Those who have seen his performance at least once cannot remain indifferent to this type of art. It is able to evoke special emotions, and besides, even the audience gets the feeling that they have become participants in something special.
Features of Georgian dance
No one can say exactly when the Georgian folk dance appeared. Only one thing is clear - the mountain people have it in their blood.
Historians claim that the first mention of Georgian folklore in general and dances in particular appeared before our era. This is confirmed by the records of the famous Greek historian Xenophon. Dance and military melodies, as well as secular music, were popular among the Georgian tribes. Even military actions among this people could not do without dances and music. What can we say, even if Georgians' funerals are accompanied by special ritual dances.
Georgian dance culture is multifaceted and diverse. But at the same time, all dances have a common feature. This is the behavior of the dancers on stage. A girl in such dances always looksgraceful and majestic. She moves in small steps. A man is the embodiment of masculinity and fearlessness. He performs sharp and very complex movements, and some of them are more like acrobatic stunts. It can be high jumps and bold pirouettes.
Lezginka dance
Georgian dance has become very popular in the world primarily thanks to the lezginka. There are few people who would not know the name of this incendiary dance. But how did it happen? When did dance become popular in Europe?
The fact is that from ancient times trade routes passed through the Caucasus, which united Asia and Europe. During these travels, merchants noticed a dance that they had not known before. The performers of beautiful movements were the local people - the Lezgins.
Each Georgian dance has its own meaning. What does the lezginka symbolize? In order to understand this, it is necessary to take into account that the dance is an echo of ancient pagan rites. One of the central images of this faith was the image of an eagle. It is he who reproduces the dancer, showing his strength, dexterity, and temperament. Especially the resemblance to an eagle can be seen at the moment when the partner rises on his toes and describes circles, while proudly spreading his arms. Which is reminiscent of an eagle about to take off.
The movements of the girl in this dance, as always, are smooth and graceful. There is a kind of competition between young people, and this is another feature that characterizes Lezginka.
Georgian dancekartuli
This very popular and romantic dance is a wedding dance and tells the story of love and relationship of a couple in love. Naturally, they dance it in pairs.
Kartuli dance combines two types of movements: male and female. The men's party is designed to show the pride, courage and love of a man. Despite the great love for a woman, a man also feels respect and reverence, so throughout the dance he keeps his distance and does not touch her. The touch is replaced by the gaze that he never takes off from his beloved all the time while they are dancing.
As for the women's party, it is soft and modest. A woman, just like a man, is obliged to maintain a distance. But other than that, she doesn't even dare to raise her eyes to him. Throughout the dance, her gaze is half-lowered, and her movements resemble a swan that glides on water.
This Georgian dance is considered one of the most difficult, so both dancers must have real talent and skill to perform it.
The Kartuli dance has a clear structure, which cannot be violated in any way. It consists of five parts. First, the man is obliged to invite the woman to dance with him, after which they dance together. At the third stage, the solo is performed by a man, after which there is a female part. At the last stage, the partners dance together again.
The main meaning of this dance is an expression of love and respect from a man to a woman.
Sukhishvili National Ensemble
The first professionalThe Georgian National Ballet of Sukhishvili became a dance ensemble performing a Georgian dance, following the example of which later ensembles were created. The official year of its foundation is considered to be 1945, although in fact this year it received the status of a state one. The ballet was founded much earlier, in the late 1920s.
The troupe was founded by famous dancers Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili. The couple became the first leaders of the ensemble and played this role until 1985. After that, the leadership passed to their children, and later to their grandchildren. Thanks to this family, Georgian dance also gained world fame. The Sukhishvilis have made the folk dance ensemble a family affair, to which three generations of the dynasty have devoted their skills and time.
