posted on 3/24/2025
On January, 2021 our organization hosted George Birkadze and his friends from Boston Ballet. Birkadze is a world-renowned ballet dancer and choreographer who is also a martial artist with black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo and Kyokushin karate.
George is a graduate of the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy and worked with icons such as Ekaterina Maximova and Natalia Makarova, as well as choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon, and collaborators like Angel Corella.
Mamuka and Nino, former dancers with the State Ballet of Georgia, who have traveled to expand their professional horizons and been invited to join notable companies such as Boston Ballet.
Birkadze bridges the worlds of martial arts and ballet. We discussed the Ballet & Identity program for youth where both systems, classical ballet and martial arts, can be combined for the purpose of building strong Identity.
We also discussed the collaboration with ballet professionals and what can be done to pass on valuable knowledge to younger generations.
Visit our Connections page for more.
Vaganova training has shaped them into who they are today
Our guests Mamuka & Nino took off for Santa Monica Beach, where they filmed these magical moments. Photos by Jane Mary Oga.
Pictured here are Mamuka and Nino, former dancers with the State Ballet of Georgia, who have traveled to expand their professional horizons and been invited to join notable companies such as Boston Ballet. Mamuka and Nino are mentees of our Master Ballet Instructor and B&I project point person, George Birkadze.
