The Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater presents

Songs and Instrumental Music from the Republic of Georgia

Traditional and City Songs, Church and Classical Music

Artistic Director – Victor Sirelson

Musical Directors – Lexo and Vano Goderzishvili

Program

Ancient and Church Songs

2. Shen Khar Venakhi – To you O vineyard

An evocation of the vineyard and the sacred grape

Sung in the church it symbolizes God’s sacred gift of the grape to the country

3. Orovela – an ancient work song

A song to the bounty of the earth. A man talks to his ox as it is pulling the plow

4. Tsintsqaro – an ancient song from Kakheti about the beauty of women

I saw a beautiful woman at the spring

She was holding a jug on her shoulder

I told her one word and she blushed

I wish long life for your parents who gave this world such a beauty

5. Iavnana – Kakhetian lullaby

Your house is in my heart

Go to sleep

When you grow up you will protect your country and your people

6. Tsmindao Ghmerto

Regional Melodies and Folk Songs

8. Shenma Survilma

I hunger so much for you that my soul is almost extinguished

9. Lale – a patriotic song from the Kartli region

The first part is sad – it sends great love to the homeland because of the centuries of foreign occupation

The second part sends the wish for the motherland to have better times and that the enemy will be gone

10. Salaghobo – A patriotic song about the motherland - by Revaz Laghidze

Play some music. The kindzhal (sword) will feel this and will conquer in the war

Traditional Instrumental Melodies

12. Bukna – from the Kakheti – Kartli region

Ancient melody on the old style panduri

13. Panduruli

14. Osuri melodies – from Ossetia in the Caucasus Mountains

15. Music from Mtiuleti– from the north eastern mountain regions

Intermission

18. Duduko – old Tbilisi song

Oh duduk – you are my sweetest talisman

Your melody soothes my burning heart

Preserve my dear Tbilisi

I never want to forget you.

19. Duduki

Without the duduk I can’t unveil my heart to you

19A. Odesadzgitzker – old tbilisi love song

I am your slave

I am your shadow

I am asking God for your happiness

20. Mtvare – the moon

Sung by a fisherman:

When the moon rises

I walk along the banks of the Mtkvare River

and catch my fish

I sing my song to you

I never get your smile

And you never understand the pain in my heart

21. Kutaisi – a song from Imereti

For my city Kutaisi

22. Magnolia

The leaves fell off the magnolia.

They flew away and hugged the ground.

My lover’s heart flew from me.

23. Bulbulis Enit Chikchikeb

You are singing like a nightingale.

It is a joy to hear your voice.

Why do ou need me to hear your song?

Why do you want me to be your slave?

24. Charirama – by Gomar Sikharulidze from the movie Charirama

25. Chemo Tsisper Tvaleba – “O My Blue-eyed One” - by Nato Gelashvili

Classic Songs

27. The dance Kartuli from the opera Taisi – by Paliashvili

Garmoni and Doli

28. Daigvianess - “They are late”- a fragment from a lost opera

A shepherd sits in the mountains and awaits the soldiers. He thinks: “They go to fight and I sit like a woman among the sheep”

29. Mkholod Shen Ertz – “Only you” – a duet for classic voice

I give just to you

The best which I have from God,

And that is my love

30. Tbiliso – “O Tbilisi” - by Revaz Laghidze

The Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater

General and Artistic Director - Victor Sirelson

Musical Directors - Lexo & Vano Goderdzishvili

Traditional Instruments

panduri - stringed instrument from the eastern regions

chonguri - stringed instrument from the western regions

duduk - double-reed instrument, most common in the city

salamuri - wooden flute

doli - 2-headed Caucasian drum

garmoni - Georgian accordian

Musicians & Singers

Davit Ambrosidze - vocals, panduri

Shorena Barbakadze - vocals, panduri

Mzia Bekurashvili - vocals

Manana Chitauri - vocals

Zaira Chokheli - vocals

Lexo Goderdzishvili - salamuri, panduri, duduk, chonguri, vocals

Vano Goderdzishvili - salamuri, panduri, duduk, chonguri, vocals

Givi Khosroshvili—garmoni

Maia Kiladze - vocals

Nodar Obolashvili - doli

Tamila Zatikashvili - vocals

About the Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater

The Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater is a dedicated group of dancers, singers, musicians and theater professionalsinvolved in the presentation of traditional performance arts from world cultures. The company specializes in Georgian dance and music and is committed to studying and accurately representing the folk traditions and their evolution into contemporary forms.

The Dancing Crane company has been active since 1996 in presenting classes and performances of Georgian dances and music. Its director is long-time Warwick resident Victor Sirelson, formerly of the Aman Folk Ensemble of Los Angeles. The Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater is a result of his dream of bringing the beauty and wisdom of authentic and ancient traditions into his community and of building a bridge between this old culture and modern American society. The best contact is formed when people are personally engaged. With this aim in view, the ensemble has been formed as a unique mix of local talent and professional performers from the Republic of Georgia, rehearsing and performing together with Warwick as our base.

The small country of Georgia in the heart of the Caucasus region has developed a dance tradition which rivals classic ballet in its demanding and refined technique, but which has a style all its own, containing strength, elegance and graceful movement evolved over centuries. The music, played on traditional folk instruments is based on ancient modes which help distinguish the dances as among the most beautiful in the world.

Georgian songs are very distinctive and unusual with complex harmonies and moving lines producing music of a rare beauty. The modal structure is quite distinct from European music. Songs are typically sung in three parts. A complex polyphony evolved at least as far back as the Tenth Century in Georgia at a time when single part chants such as Gregorian chant were the style in Europe. The folk songs or “khalkhuri” are quite varied, including work songs, heroic war songs, wedding songs, drinking songs, patriotic songs, lullabies and laments as well as religious songs with traces of both the Christian Orthodox as well as pre-Christian influences. There is also a rich tradition of city songs, which are based on the old harmonies and which form the basis of today’s popular music in Georgia.

The company includes some of the best dancers, singers and musicians from the Republic of Georgia. The dancers are led by choreographer Vladimer "Dato" Goderidze. Like many of Georgia’s best dancers Dato began dancing at a very early age, joining Tbilisi's professional childrens ensemble at the age of 7. He has soloed for many years with Georgia’s top ensembles including the Georgian State (Sukhishvili) Dance Ensemble, the Georgian State Ensemble of Songs and Dances,the state orchestra of Georgia Rero, as well as doing choreography for Tbilisi’s Metekhi Ensemble.

The musicians are led by Lexo Goderdzishvili, highly respected throughout Georgia for his mastery of the traditional instruments. He is a core member of the Kolkheti Ensemble which is considered one of the best in all of Georgia.

The Dancing Crane ensemble performs dances in authentic costume from the Black Sea regions of Adjaria and Guria to the mountain regions of Mtiuleti and Khevsureti. Dances from the Ossetian region are renowned for the gliding movements of the women and the special “Tseruli” or dance on the toes for the men. The music from this region is especially lovely. Georgian dance music is characterized by strong rhythms and compelling melodies played on garmoni and doli (the drum common in the Caucasus). Old melodies are played on a pair of duduks, a double-reed instrument with a haunting sound evocative of very ancient times.

During its short three years the Dancing Crane Ensemble has attracted high level artistic and cultural interest, with many performances in the New York City and upstate areas. Local performances including Middletown's Paramount Theater and the Playhouse at Museum Village have elicited standing ovations and tears of joy in the very appreciative audience. The company is receiving many invitations to present their splendid renditions of the Georgian cultural legacy - including Cornell University's opening feast for the Ezra Cornell School of Restaurant and Hotel Management, at the Russian Nobility Ball at the Grand Plaza Hotel in New York City, at the Georgian Indepence Day celebration in New York City, the Diamond Folk Dance Festival on Memorial Weekend in Washington, D.C. and Middletown's First Night celebration.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Director: Victor Sirelson

Address: Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater, 9 DeKay Road, Warwick, New York 10990

Phone: 845-986-2638email: info@dancingcrane.orgwebsite: www.dancingcrane.org

This project is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts' Decentralization Program administered by Arts Community Grants of Orange County.