Vakhtang Chabukiani

Vakhtang Chabukiani the founder of Georgian Classic ballet was born in 1910. In 1922-23 he studied in Perini Ballet Studio in Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1926 he proceeded with his studying in Leningrad Choreographic School.In 1929-41 he was the soloist of Leningrad and Opera and Ballet Theatre. V.Chabukiani headed Tbilisi State Choreographic School from 1951. From the first day he started important reforms, under his initiative in 1959 a new school was built where the world ballet lots of well-known artists grew up: Nina Ananiashvili, Irma Nioradze, Nika Tsiskaridze, Igor Zelinski, Maia Zurashvili, David Makhateli, Elene Glurjidze, Lali Kandelaki etc. The main purpose of V. Chabukiani works was the national basis of Georgian Classic Ballet. From 1977 the art director of the school became the main choreographer of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the honored artist of Georgia George Alexidze, the director Baram Baramidze.