AFG: Projects: Other: Culture & Art
Nina Ananiashvili
Personal Observations from the Executive Director: Perhaps the best known Georgian artist in the world is prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, a member of the Bolshoi and the American Ballet Theater. Currently, she has been appointed by the President of Georgia to be the Director of the State Ballet of Georgia and a member of the Supervisory Board of Georgian Public Television. Nina made her first American appearance in 1988 when she became the first Georgian dancer to guest with the New York City Ballet in fellow
Georgian George Balanchine’s Symphony in C. In the spring of 1993 she appeared in the American Ballet Theater production of Swan Lake dancing the role of Odile. In addition to performances in Russia, Georgia and the United States, she has appeared in Japan, Sweden, Germany, England, Finland, Denmark and Portugal.
I first met Nina Ananiashvili when she was dancing at Jacob’s Pillow in Western Massachusetts. I had learned that she was raising money for the Georgian Ballet and I asked her if she would help AFG to raise money for Georgian children. She readily agreed and although it took some time to work around her busy international schedule, on June 19, 2001 she hosted and spoke at a reception for AFG at the Beadleston Gallery in New York. Nina spoke movingly about the beauty of her country and the needs of Georgian children. I introduced her by describing her appearance in a ballet I had seen her dance at the Metropolitan Opera House. She was all in shimmering white with her long black hair loosely falling down her back. Her body did not seem as if it ever touched the ground. At the reception, to the delight of everyone there, she modeled an embroidered cap made for her by the children in Bediani. In spite of her busy schedule, Nina has agreed to serve on the AFG Advisory Board.
For Nina Ananiashvili’s website, go to www.ananiashvili.com