NIKOLOZ MAKHATELI,
MAKHATELI BALLET ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER

Mr. Makhateli graduated from the Tblisi National Ballet School and the Tblisi State Institute of the Arts, receiving his Master's Degree as a teacher, repetiteur and choreographer. He performed as Principal Dancer with the National Theater Opera House in (Soviet) Georgia from 1966-1992, dancing all the leading roles in the classical repertoire and then working as a choreographer and Master Teacher with Maurice Bejart's "Mudra-Afrique" School (Senegal), at the National Ballet School (Nicaragua), and the Kirov (St. Petersburg). Mr. Makhateli combines his international experience and lifelong commitment to the artistry of ballet with his joy of teaching. In the studio, he inspires young dancers as he instructs with care, kindness, a true love of music and dance, and high standards and expectations for his students. Additional information is provided below, concerning Mr. Makhateli's exceptional dance, choreography and directing career.

Most Outstanding Ballet School and Students in Colorado

Makhateli Ballet, Mr. Makhateli and his dancers have already garnered many accolades in 2005. On February 27, 2005, Makhateli Ballet's competition debut with Mr. Makhateli as its Artistic Director and Choreographer, received the distinction from Youth America Grand Prix as the "Most Outstanding Ballet School in Colorado." Furthermore, Mr. Mahkateli's dancers swept the Youth America Grand Prix with the following awards: Nadia Belkin was Overall Grand Prix Winner; Evelyn Turner won FIRST PLACE in Senior Classical and 6th Place in Senior Contemporary; Terrance Artis won FIRST PLACE in Senior Contemporary and 7th Place in Senior Classical; and Kelsey Gibson placed 6th in Junior Contemporary and 7th in Junior Classical. Also, several of Mr. Makhateli's students have been invited to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Harid Academy, San Francisco Academy and the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive Programs; other students have been offered full-ride scholarships to the Washington D.C. Universal Ballet Academy (formerly Kirov Academy) and the Canadian International Ballet School for the 2005-06 year.

1986-1987 Ballet Master/Choreographer, Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg; Obtained Master's Degree as Teacher Repertoire Choreographer

Mr. Makhateli's areas of expertise as Ballet Master and Choreographer for the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia included the full Vaganova syllabus, the entire Petipa repertory (learned in St. Petersburg from the Principal Choreographer of the Kirov Ballet Theatre, Oleg Vinogradov); and the 8-year syllabus of classical ballet (including character, pas de deux, music, history of theatre and art).

1970-1975 Tbilisi State Institute of Arts (Producer of Drama and Ballet)

In 1975, Mr. Makhateli earned his Master's Degree as Teacher/ Repetiteur/ Choreographer from the Tbilisi State Institute of Arts. His areas of expertise included the full Vaganova syllabus, the entire Petipa and Georgia ballet and drama repetitoire (learned in Tbilisi under Art Expert Dimitri Alexsidze and famous dancer/choreographer Vakhtang Chabukiani.

1956-1966 Tbilisi National Ballet School -- Diploma as Professional Ballet Dancer

Mr. Makhateli studied ballet technique, pas de deux, character, folk, acting and pantomime, music for dance and dance history under famous dancer/choreographer/teacher, Vakhtang Chabukian.

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE CAREER

Mr. Makhateli's favorite performance experiences are with The National Theater Opera House in Georgia (Russia). Highlighting his favorites, he was Principal Dancer in the following ballets: Bluebird in SLEEPING BEAUTY, Albert in GISELLE, Poet in LES SYLPHIDES, Pas de Trois in SWAN LAKE, Jerome in FLAMES OF PARIS, Solor in LA BAYADERE, Basil in DON QUIXOTE, Prince in THE NUTCRACKER, PAQUITA, Kolan in LA FILLE MAL GARDEE, Jian de Brienne in RAIMONDA, pas de deux in FLOWER FESTIVAL AT GENZANO, Franz in COPPELIA, Mengo in LAURENCE and pas de deux in LA CORSAIR. He also played many another roles with other organizations.

CHOREOGRAPHY AND BALLET DIRECTION

Mr. Makhateli is most highly respected and renowned for the following full-length ballets: 1996: Children's Musical Theater in Tbilisi: PRESTIGE and ADVENTURE PINOCCHIO 1997: LA FILLE MAL GARDEE (Kutaisi Georgia and Vladikavkaz Russia) 1998: DOCTOR OUCH, THAT HURTS! (Kutaisi Georgia and Rostov Russia); 2000: National Theater Opera House in Georgia, Mozart REQUIEM International Ballet Gala in Tbilisi, by/with Battler Ballet (USA); ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program); TEMPTATION Adajietto (G Mahler); 2001: The Sun Valley Ballet School, Choreographer for the NUTCRACKER; 2002: COPPELIA; 2003: LA FILLE MAL GARDEE (USA); 2004: MEDITATIONS and MEDEA (David Taylor Dance Theatre USA); CHOPIN 1-Concert for Piano & Orchestra (David Taylor Dance Theatre USA). Mr. Makhateli has also performed and choreographed in films, on television, in dramatic theater and in operatic shows. Mr. Makhateli has also presented his own original ballet: 2004: Classic Grand Pas---Music Amilcare Ponchielli (David Taylor Dance Theatre USA)

TOURING

Mr. Makhateli toured with Tbilisi's National Theater Opera House in Georgia, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Australia and Singapore.

ORDER OF THE MARK OF DISTINCTION

Mr. Makhateli is recognized as a highly distinguished artist, having received the "Order of the Mark of Distinction" from the Republic of Georgia, the highest order of the Georgia Republic!