Ananiashvili Nino

Nino Ananiashvili (b. March 8, 1963, Tbilisi) is a ballerina. People's Artist of Georgia (1988), People's Artist of the Russian Federation (1995), Laureate of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1992).

Until 1977, she studied at the Tbilisi State School of Choreography (now Tbilisi State Ballet School) (teacher: T. Vikhodtseva). She continued her studies at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (teacher: N. Zolotova) the same year. In 1980–1985, she was the leading ballerina of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre.

In 1985–2004 she was a prima ballerina. Her roles include: Odette-Odilia, Masha (Swan Lake and The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky), Phrygia (Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian), Sylphide (Chopiniana), Raymonda (Raymonda by Alexander Glazunov), Kitri (Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus), Giselle (Giselle by Adolphe Adam), Rita (The Golden Age by Dmitri Shostakovich), Cinderella, Juliet (Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet) and others (in the productions by Yury Grigorovich, Kenneth MacMillan and Mikhail Lavrovsky).

Since 2004, she has been the leading soloist and artistic director of the ballet troupe of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre. Ananiashvili's dance is characterized by charming delicacy and refined form.

She holds the four highest awards of international ballet competitions: Gold Medal at the Varna Competition (Bulgaria, 1980), Grand Prix at the Fourth Moscow Competition (1981), Gold Medal at the Fifth Moscow Competition (1985), Grand Prix and Gold Medal (with her partner, Andris Liepa) at the Third Jackson Competition (Mississippi, USA, 1986).

In 1993, Ananiashvili received the Russian Independent National Award “Triumph”. She toured with the Bolshoi Theatre and was personally invited to perform leading roles in London, Denmark, USA (Balanchine's troupe), Hungary, France, Finland, Japan.

She was the recipient of “Woman of the Year” award (USA, 1997), “Golden Goddess” award (France, 1999), Presidential Order of Excellence of Georgia (2010), Order of Princess Marie de Bourbon, the successor of the Royal family of France (2002) and others. She was also awarded with the Order of Honor of Georgia (2003).

N. Gunia