Our Repertoire
The repertoire of the ensemble contains 2 programs:
The folklore program which is a 1,5 hour concert with more than 80 dancers presenting folk dances of Georgia, North Caucasus, Black Sea regions and Greece.
"The Spartans" show program. It is inspired by the historical battle between the Greeks and the Persians. The whole story appears through dance. The choreography is authentic but based on the folk dances.
First Set
QARTULI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Alexandra Kozmanidou, Agis Toursidis
A traditional Georgian pair dance from the region Qartli. It represents the philosophy of the affair between man and woman. The movements symbolize the masculinity and femininity of each gender and their interaction through the journey of life.
KHORUMI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Based on traditional Georgian dance from the region Guria and Ajara. This is a military dance that has 4 parts. The detection of the enemies, the march to the battlefield, the battle and the winning parade. Perhaps this dance is relative to the Greek pontiac military dances due to similar traditional and choreographic forms, geographic location and the Greek root KHORON (trans. - dance).
ACHARULI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Svetlana Kotanidou, Agis Toursidis, Beso Osipidis, Alkiviadis Kolosidis, Vasilis Moisidis, Iraklis Kelasidis, Iosif Barbarovi
based on traditional Georgian dances from the region Ajara that represent their way of life. Men were fishermen, women were working at the fields gathering oranges, mandarins and tea leaves. The choreography contains traditional dance "Gani da gana'" (trans. side by side). Men and women during a celebration were separated to different sides of the corridor and were dancing and singing each gender on their side.
RACHULI
Choreographer
Nektarios Toursidis
Based on traditional Georgian dance from the region Racha. Represents the villagers life, a joyful and fast dance.
KAZBEGURI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Based on traditional Georgian dance of the shepherds living on the hills near the mount Kazbegi (>5000 m).Every day these people were facing danger from the adverse weather conditions, wild animals and the bandits and thieves. Their dance is brave and tough, as was their everyday life.
JEIRANI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloist
Athina Toursidou
The dance of the mythical gazelle (Caucasus antelope). A fairytale of the eastern folklore describes this mythical beautiful animal that could generate gold buy taping its hooves. Every hunter wanted to catch it, but it was elusive. Some hunters that could actually meet it in the wild described that there were frozen astonished by its shining beauty and the next moment it disappeared. Fist Brought to stage by Nina Ramishvili & Ilia Arbatov at Georgian National Ballet Sukhsihvili.
KINTAURI
Choreographer
Ramaz Gviniashvili, Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Beso Osipidis, Iraklis Kelasidis, Valerios Tsahidis, Iosif Barabarovi, Agis Toursidis
Based on traditional dance of craftsmen of the Avlabar district in old Tiflis. The music rhythm and melody was brought to Caucasus by persians. Many of the kinto men were armenian nationality. Kinto is a character that represents the soul and the atmosphere of the old Tiflis city center.
UZUN DARA
Choreographer
Garine Gostanian
An armenian dance popular in Artsakh (Karabach). It used to be a wedding dance of the bride, other researchers say of the mother of the bride. There are evidence that the origin of this dance is from Erzerum and Kars regions of Pontos.
ANATOLITIKOS
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Alexandra Kozmanidou, Agis Toursidis
Wedding dance of the Greeks of Tsalka region recreating the bride theft custom. The music is of the traditional dance of Anatolia - HALAY enorchestrated by turkish musical band.
Second Set
KOTSARI, LETSINA, SAMSON, SERRA
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Based on traditional Greek dances from Pontos (Black sea) region. The men dance Serra - is a military dance, perhaps is the remnant of the ancient Greek war dance "pyrrihios" (trans. Fire dance) that used to be performed all over the Greek cities on large occasions, celebrations and Olympic games. The movements of this dance were described by Ploutarchos 3000 year ago.
DAGESTAN MAIDEN DANCE
Choreographer
Nektarios Toursidis
Based on traditional dances of several regions of the Dagestan republic on the western side of the Caucasus mountains on the shores of the Caspian sea.
QALTA CEKVA
Choreographer
Agis Toursdis
Soloists
Nana Arkosashvili
Based on traditional Georgian maiden dance from region Khevsureti. Famous for their beauty women of this area were tough and could ride horses and use weapons to escape from the hostile neighbors, Chechens and Ingush.
FARIKAOBA
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Anna Poponidou, Alkiviadis Kolosidis
Based on traditional Georgian sword fighting dance from Khevsureti region. The men of this area were known for their sword fighting skills. During this dance it was prohibited to injure the opponent. If the men were crossing the line and could actually start a real fight a woman could drop her head band (mandili) between them, so they immediately had to stop the fight as this was an unwritten law.
SAMAIA
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
The dance of trinity. The number three is very important for the Georgians due to their Christian Orthodox faith. At the ancient years it used to be a maiden dance that was performed during the celebration of the birth of a boy. This dance was elevated on the stage inspired by ancient frescoes of the Georgian Queen Tamar found in a temple by choreographer of the Georgian National Ballet, Nina Ramishvili symbolizing the trinity of the Queen as a daughter, the wife and the ruler.
AMAZONES
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Alexandra Kozmanidou, Anna Poponidou, Svetlana Kotanidou
Amazones were a feminist group of women living separate from men and known as great fighters and specially archers. It is believed that they were living at Pontos region in the ancient times.
MTIULURI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Martinos Politidis, Anastasia Kipiani
Based on traditional Georgian dance of the region Mtiuleti. This dance represents the competition between men. They were mostly horse riders and hunters, so they are showing their unique skills and tricks in front of young women.
JERMAK AGHAVNI
Choreographer
Garine Gostanian
Armenian maiden dance choreographed on the music of Khachatur Avanesyan.
SIRTAKI
Choreographer
Agis Toursidis
Soloists
Beso Osipidis, Vasilis Moisidis, Agis Toursidis
Based on Greek popular dances originated from Minor Asia, Hasapiko, Zeimbekiko, Hasaposerviko (Sousta). Music by Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Ksarhakos, Manos Loizos.