ballet diplomacy

Anne Searcy
December 15, 2020

Anne Searcy, author of Ballet in the Cold War: A Soviet-American Exchange, participates in a CPD exclusive interview.

For the next two weeks in Tbilisi, an exhibition will celebrate ties between Georgia and Japan in the field of ballet art through the legacy of famed 20th century dancer Vakhtang Chabukiani. Titled Japan and the Georgian Ballet, the display will mark the many decades of the cooperation with a focus on a 1974 series of master classes led by Chabukiani in Tokyo.

Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union shaped the historical reality of the modern world. Given the current tensions between the United States and Russia, it is worth keeping in mind the past successes of U.S. cultural diplomacy. During the Cold War, one such success involved choreographer George Balanchine.

Mariami Khatiashvili discusses the impact of one man's cultural bridge between the United States and Georgia.

Ballet Dancer

Three ballet companies from different countries come together for an international performance.

Verb Ballets embarked on their first international tour to Taiwan April 10-April 24, 2017 through the support of the Cleveland Foundation’s Creative Fusion program. During the two week tour, the company will reunite with choreographer Lee Ming-Cheng and Taiwanese dance company, BodyEDT. The two dance companies will then perform a shared program at the National Theatre & Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan for four performances running April 21-23, 2017. 

Chinese culture meets classic ballet in this famous performance filled with traditional music and elegant moves. The National Ballet of China brought its magical "Raise the Red Lantern" show to Jakarta to promote cultural exchange.

A ballet dancer and choreographer, she is heading a team of 12 artistes on a cultural exchange programme organised by the Indo-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industries on the occasion of the BRICS summit to be held in Goa between October 15 and 16. 

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