Chabukiani Vakhtang

Chabukiani Vakhtang (1910-1992), Founder of Georgian professional bal let, choreographer and pedagogue, born in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 1922-23 he studied at M. Perin Ballet Studio, affiliated to Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater. In 1924 he was enrolled in the ballet company of the same theater. In 1926-29 he perfected his skills at A. Vaganova State Choreographic School in Leningrad. In 1929-41 he was the leading dancer of S. Kirov State Opera and Ballet Academic Theater (currently – Mariinsky Theater). On the stage of that theater he played the leading parts in the following ballets, which he directed himself: A. Balanchivadze’s The Heart of the Mountains (1938) and A. Crain’s Laurencia (1939). He also danced the parts of Basil (Don Quixote by Minkus), Albert (Adan’s Giselle), Jermone (Asafiev’s Flames of Paris), Andrey (Soloviov-Sedoi’s Taras Bulba), etc. In 1941-73 V. Chabukiani headed the ballet company of Tbilisi State Theater of Opera and Ballet. Till 1968 he participated in the performances of the ballet company. There he staged ballets: A. Balanchivadze’s The Heart of the Mountains (1941), G. Kiladze’s The Light (1947; State Prize of the USSR in 1948), D. Toradze’s Gorda (1949; State Prize of the USSR in 1951), A. Machavariani’s Othello (1957), S.Tsintsadze’s Demon (1961), etc. He wrote the script and directed films Masters of Georgian Ballet (1955) and Othello (1961).

V. Chabukiani created the original style of male ballet dance, where dignified aplomb, inner expressiveness and indomitable temper merged harmoniously. His virtuoso technique allowed him to perform effortlessly the most difficult parts. He has played on tour in the USA, Italy, Latin America and other countries. He directed ballets in Japan, Iran, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc. He was the laureate of Lenin Prize (1958) and State Prizes of the USSR (1941, 1948 and 1951), People’s Artiste of Georgia (1941) and the USSR (1950).

V. Chabukiani died in Tbilisi and was buried at Mtatsminda Pantheon.