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Georgia Music and Dance
Georgia is known for its rich and unique folk dance and
music. The Georgian State Dance Company, founded in the 1940s,
has traveled around the world performing spectacular renditions
of traditional Georgian dances. Unique in folk-dancing tradition,
Georgian male performers dance on their toes without the help of
special blocked shoes. Georgian folk music, featuring complex,
three-part, polyphonic harmonies, has long been a subject of
special interest among musicologists. Men and women sing in
separate ensembles with entirely different repertoires. Most
Georgian folk songs are peculiar to individual regions of
Georgia. The inspiration is most often the church, work in the
fields, or special occasions. The Rustavi Choir, formed in 1968,
is the best known Georgian group performing a traditional
repertoire.
In modern Georgia, folk songs are most frequently sung around
the table. The ceremonial dinner (supra), a frequent
occurrence in Georgian homes, is a highly ritualized event that
itself forms a direct link to Georgia's past. On such occasions,
rounds of standardized and improvised toasts typically extend
long into the night. Georgian cuisine, which includes a variety
of delicate sauces and sharp spices, is also an important part of
the culture that links the generations. In the Soviet period, the
best restaurants in the large cities of other republics were
often Georgian.
Data as of March 1994
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