People's artist of Georgia
Kote Makharadze
at the Festival opening
Morihiro Iwata,
Festival Grand Prix winner
The
The Grand Prix winners of the Festival — a statuette produced by Gia Dzhaparidze — were: soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Morihiro Iwata (who also was awarded for best choreography) and legends of Georgian ballet People’s Artists of Georgia Vera Tsignadze and Zurab Kikaleishvili.
I would like to express my feelings about today’s gala night and to address them to the author of the festival “Chabukiani-Balanchine...” Today I am extremely happy: thanks to the efforts of Tamaz Vashakidze two genius names have combined together. These outstanding people will take a well-deserved place in world arts history.
Zurab Kikaleishvili, legend of Georgian ballet
(from his speech at the Grand Prix awarding ceremony of the First “Chabukiani-Balanchine...” International Festival of Ballet Art)
For development and popularization of Georgian ballet art and for holding the First “Chabukiani-Balanchine...” International Festival of Ballet Art Tamaz Vashakidze was awarded with Order of Honor.
In 2002 Tamaz Vashakidze founded the International “Chabukiani-Balanchine” Foundation.
SOS!!! The activity of “Chabukiani-Balanchine” Foundation, aimed on support and popularization of Georgian ballet art, is now suspended!
SOS!!! Vakhtang Chabukiani Award founded by the Georgian Ministry of Culture in 2002 for high achievements in ballet art is not given!
SOS!!! Holding “Chabukiani-Balanchine...” ballet art festivals was stopped!
2010 — 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vakhtang Chabukiani
The 35th Session of the UNESCO General Conference has approved the list of the jubilee dates that will be marked by the states-members of UNESCO in 2010 and 2011. This list including 63 jubilees of world scale features the 100th anniversary of the outstanding dancer and choreographer Vakhtang Chabukiani.
By this date the ballet master of the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, the artistic director of “New Georgian Ballet” theatre of modern dance Tamaz Vashakidze together with photography artist Vitaly Pustovalov have prepared a series of shots in the manner of “static ballet” “Dedication to the Teacher Vakhtang Chabukiani”. The exhibition should open in April 2010.
Moreover, within the framework of cultural and educational activity the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre plans to hold a series of ballet performances dedicated to this remarkable event.
Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
46a, Prospekt Lenina, Ekaterinburg 620075
http://www.uralopera.ru
e-mail: info@uralopera.ru
Our Ref. No. 628
25 December, 2009
To: Mrs Irina Bokova,
UNESCO Director General
Dear Mrs Bokova,
We are happy to congratulate you on your assumption of the office of Director General of UNESCO, the UN organization whose mission is to strengthen peace through education, science and culture, and we specifically express our appreciation of the fact that the centenary of Vakhtang Chabukiani, a distinguished dancer and choreographer, has been included in the list of the world's cultural events celebrated by UNESCO in 2010.
The ballet-master of the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, bearer of the Order of Honour, the Honoured artist of Georgia Tamaz Vashakidze is a disciple of this great dancer and outstanding teacher. In fulfillment of the precept of his teacher, in June 2001, Tamaz Vashakidze, jointly with the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, had organized the First International Festival of Ballet Art Chabukiani — Balanchine and initiated institution of the Vakhtang Chabukiani Prize “For outstanding achievements in ballet art”. In the same year, Tamaz Vashakidze had established the Chabukiani — Balanchine Foundation.
I am glad to inform you that, in 2010, within the framework of celebrations of the centenary of this master and in continuation of the events to promote the creative heritage of the great Chabukiani, the Ekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre plans a series of ballet performances timed to this remarkable event.
Dear Mrs Bokova, I wish you every success in your activities for the cause of preservation of the world culture and meeting the commitments of your organization to serve all countries and nations.
Yours sincerely,
A.G. Shishkin.
Director of Theatre