Supra !

Choreography and direction by Feri de Geus and Noortje Bijvoet (The Netherlands/Georgia)

The Netherlands : Feri de Geus (Dutch choreographer) and Noortje Bijvoet (dance teacher / choreographer) - Company Le Grand Cru
Georgia : the children of the Kutaisi Folk Palace. A provisory company will be constituted of dancers and singers aged from 11- 17.

Assistance Georgian dance Nuczar Ninidze
Playwrights Rezo Kldiashvili
Costume designTonny Boersma
Light design Pink Steenvoorden
Music A.O Goran Bregovic, Hamlet Gonashvili, Peace Orchestra

with
Aleko Baramitze, Spartak Benidze, Nia Chechelashvili, Sopho Gelashvili, Irakli Goksadze, Beka Kukhianidze, Giorgi Mikadze, Tamta Mukebanjani, Irakli Shengelia, Gaga Sordia, Jaguna Verulashvili, Lasha Zalkaliani

Premiere on August 21, 2003 in Groningen (The Netherlands) and in October 2003 in Tbilisi and Kutaisi
21 August -17 September: tour of 14 performances in Holland and in Berlin

Co-production Stichting Entre Nous, Stichting le Grand Cru, Grand Theatre Groningen (The Netherlands), Max Wagener Stichting (The Netherlands), Felix Meritis (The Netherlands), Stichting Caucasus Foundation, Theorem (association supported by the Culture 2000 programme of the European Union).

Following a research trip to Georgia in March 2002, the Dutch choreographers intended to create a performance that represents cultural values through dance traditions while also apllying a contemporary dance approach to offer a new perspective.
One of the most intriguing and existential rituals of daily life in Georgia is the Supra. A focal aspect of this gathering around a long table is the quasi-sacramental ceremony of toasting. The toast is led by a toastmaster (tamada). During the long evening of (excessive) eating and drinking, he toasts all the guests and the existential subjects in life. The guests then add their own toasts. It is an intimate gathering that enforces mutual ties in an exchange of opinions. Cheered by the wine, people are more open and tell honest, personal stories more easily.
It is certainly no bacchanal. A drunken guest (let alone the toastmaster) is a bad guest and means a failed Supra. At the toastmaster 's instigation and depending on the atmosphere there is room for poetry, singing and dancing.
This impressive ritual is the artistic starting point for creating the performance. The audience becomes part of this ritual by gathering around a huge table (wooden platform) with a glass of wine and some fruit or other food. Some of the performers enter with the audience to seat themselves around the table. One of them presents himself as toastmaster and the evening starts. Traditions, hospitality, politics and personal stories are exchanged in high speed with humor and tragic turns, reflecting the way the atmosphere changes with real toasts. Gradually the action moves from around the table to on top of the table. The story-line is conveyed by dance, text and singing. The well-known Georgian writer Rezo Kldiashvili wrote several monologues and dialogues.

Supra ! Choreography and direction by Feri de Geus and Noortje Bijvoet (The Netherlands/Georgia)
The Netherlands : Feri de Geus (Dutch choreographer) and Noortje Bijvoet (dance teacher / choreographer) - Company Le Grand Cru Georgia : the children of the Kutaisi Folk Palace. A provisory company will be constituted of dancers and singers aged from 11- 17. Assistance Georgian dance Nuczar Ninidze Playwrights Rezo Kldiashvili Costume designTonny Boersma Light design Pink Steenvoorden Music A.O Goran Bregovic, Hamlet Gonashvili, Peace Orchestra with Aleko Baramitze, Spartak Benidze, Nia Chechelashvili, Sopho Gelashvili, Irakli Goksadze, Beka Kukhianidze, Giorgi Mikadze, Tamta Mukebanjani, Irakli Shengelia, Gaga Sordia, Jaguna Verulashvili, Lasha Zalkaliani Premiere on August 21, 2003 in Groningen (The Netherlands) and in October 2003 in Tbilisi and Kutaisi 21 August -17 September: tour of 14 performances in Holland and in Berlin Co-production Stichting Entre Nous, Stichting le Grand Cru, Grand Theatre Groningen (The Netherlands), Max Wagener Stichting (The Netherlands), Felix Meritis (The Netherlands), Stichting Caucasus Foundation, Theorem (association supported by the Culture 2000 programme of the European Union).
Following a research trip to Georgia in March 2002, the Dutch choreographers intended to create a performance that represents cultural values through dance traditions while also apllying a contemporary dance approach to offer a new perspective. One of the most intriguing and existential rituals of daily life in Georgia is the Supra. A focal aspect of this gathering around a long table is the quasi-sacramental ceremony of toasting. The toast is led by a toastmaster (tamada). During the long evening of (excessive) eating and drinking, he toasts all the guests and the existential subjects in life. The guests then add their own toasts. It is an intimate gathering that enforces mutual ties in an exchange of opinions. Cheered by the wine, people are more open and tell honest, personal stories more easily. It is certainly no bacchanal. A drunken guest (let alone the toastmaster) is a bad guest and means a failed Supra. At the toastmaster 's instigation and depending on the atmosphere there is room for poetry, singing and dancing. This impressive ritual is the artistic starting point for creating the performance. The audience becomes part of this ritual by gathering around a huge table (wooden platform) with a glass of wine and some fruit or other food. Some of the performers enter with the audience to seat themselves around the table. One of them presents himself as toastmaster and the evening starts. Traditions, hospitality, politics and personal stories are exchanged in high speed with humor and tragic turns, reflecting the way the atmosphere changes with real toasts. Gradually the action moves from around the table to on top of the table. The story-line is conveyed by dance, text and singing. The well-known Georgian writer Rezo Kldiashvili wrote several monologues and dialogues.