GEORGIA TODAY visited Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater during the preparation of the Nutcracker which kicked off on December 21 and will continue until January 14.
The Nutcracker ballet has been a beloved holiday tradition, captivating audiences with its mesmerizing music by Tchaikovsky. While this is not the first time that the Nutcracker is being presented by the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater, the pressure was still noticeable.
During the rehearsals, the dancers were given advice and helped each other in a serious atmosphere that saw the choreographers and Nina Ananiashvili making sure every detail was perfect and ready for the show.
Sesili Guguchia made her debut on December 27 in the Nutcracker, dancing for the first time on stage with a partner. No need to be an expert of ballet to understand that her performance was acknowledged by the public. Sesili is now 20 years old and has been dancing since she was 8. She graduated two years ago and is now ready to take a bigger step in the world of ballet. She confided during the rehearsals, one week before the Nutcracker, her stress, but said she wanted to make the most of this opportunity and to enjoy every single moment. Sesili can reassure herself- as even Maria Kochetkova and Efe Burak, international leading soloists, explained that the stress never really goes away before a performance.
If you didn’t get a ticket this time round, be sure to mark ahead in your 2024 calendar for next Christmas!
Léa Montagne
