Illustrated Biography of Nina Ananiashvili 1988-1999

Ananiashvili, who has been awarded the State Prize of Georgia and the State Prize of Russia "Triumph" for her outstanding achievements, continued to expand her repertory throughout her career. In June, 1997, she added the title role in Ronald Hynd's choreographic version of The Merry Widow for ABT. She was partnered by Guillaume Graffin.

Inspired by her dancing, Houston Ballet artistic director Ben Stevenson created The Snow Maiden for her in 1998. The evening-length ballet, set to a Tchaikovsky score arranged by John Lanchbery and beautifully staged by Desmond Heeley, was enthusiastically received in Houston and New York, where ABT has performed it in both 1998 and 1999 seasons.
	In 1998, Nina also danced Medora in the first night of ABT's first-ever production of Le Corsaire, which became a big hit with the audience; it was the first time Nina danced the complete Corsaire. For ABT's 1999 tour of Japan, Nina added the role of the Glove Seller in Massine's Gaité Parisienne; she was partnered by Giuseppe Picone, in lieu of the injured Guillaume Graffin.

With her home company, the Bolshoi, and her own traveling ensemble, Nina has sought to explore other choreography and dance idioms. She "discovered" Alexei Ratmansky (now resident choreographer for ABT) and asked him to choreograph for her troupe. Nina Ananiashvili and Friends since has toured with The Charms of Mannerism and Dreams about Japan ---bringing the pieces to Tokyo, Paris, Alma-Ata, Tbilisi, and the Berkshires' Jacob's Pillow Festival. The Bolshoi, in seeking to integrate the legacy of George Balanchine into its repertory, has recently acquired Symphony in C and Mozartiana, in both of which Nina displays her affinity for the late great choreographer.