Vakhtang Chabukiani

Dancer and choreographer

1910–1992

Vakhtang Chabukiani (1910–1992) was born in Tiflis. He began at Maria Perini's ballet studio in Tbilisi and from 1926 to 1929 trained at the Leningrad Choreographic School, today's Vaganova Academy. In 1929 he made his debut at the Kirov Theatre and quickly became one of the most brilliant dancers in the country.

Chabukiani reshaped the male part in classical ballet: the slave variation he choreographed for “Le Corsaire” in 1931 is still performed today. In 1938 he staged “The Heart of the Mountains” to music by Andria Balanchivadze, in 1939 “Laurencia”, and in 1941, with Vladimir Ponomaryov, he revived “La Bayadère” at the Kirov, where it has stayed in the repertory ever since.

In 1941 he returned to Tbilisi and for more than thirty years, until 1973, was principal dancer and choreographer of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, then took charge of the Tbilisi Choreographic School. His ballet “Othello” was filmed in 1960. His pupils included Nina Ananiashvili and Nikolay Tsiskaridze. Chabukiani is buried in the Mtatsminda Pantheon.