NAME: Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Company

CULTURE: Georgian

GENRE: Music and Dance of the Southern Caucasus Region

REGION: Catskills

COUNTY: Orange

BIO: The Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater is a group of 25 dancers, singers and musicians who present traditional performing arts of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. While the dances and music are performed with strict adherence to the traditions, evolved over centuries, their work is part of the living tradition and includes contemporary interpretations by traditional artists. The Dancing Crane Company has been active since 1996. Its director is long-time Warwick resident Victor Sirelson, formerly of the Aman Folk Ensemble of Los Angeles. The dancers are led by choreographer Vladimer “Dato” Goderidze. Dato began dancing at a very early age, joining Tbilisi’s professional childrens ensemble at the age of seven. He has soloed for many years with Georgia’s top ensembles as well as doing choreography for Tbilisi’s Metekhi Ensemble. The musicians are led by Vano Goderdzishvili, known for his mastery of the folk instruments and traditional songs. He is a member of the Kolkheti Ensemble, which is considered one of the best in all of Georgia. The repertoire includes Parikaoba mountain dances with swords, the elegant Osuri court dances, the ancient Samaya women’s dance, the city dances of the Kinto and Karachokheli, the refined women’s dances with elegant hand movements including Jeirani and Mukhambazi, as well as the regional folk dances such as those from Acharia and Svaneti. Songs and music represent all traditional Georgian genres, including folk music in the various local regional styles, church songs, city songs, romances and contemporary estrada as well as songs from the Georgian classic and opera repertoire, all performed on traditional instruments.

DISCOGRAPHY: Mrzagvruli: “there is such a country: it is called Georgia”, 2008

WEBSITE: www.dancingcrane.org

CONTACT: Victor Sirelson (845) 986-2638