Nina Ananiashvili Returns to London with New Swan Lake for State Ballet of Georgia

Nina Ananiashvili, who has served as the artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia since 2004 and was a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, will present a fresh interpretation of Swan Lake at the London Coliseum from July 17 to 26, 2026. This new production showcases costumes and sets designed by Kirill Gassilin and David Monavardisashvili, drawing inspiration from 14th- and 15th-century Germany. It also features choreography influenced by pre-war Bolshoi performances, which Ananiashvili learned from renowned figures such as Raissa Struchkova and Marina Semyonova. Guest performers include Chloe Misseldine from American Ballet Theatre and Oleg Ligai from the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. Ananiashvili, who first portrayed Odette/Odile shortly after joining the Bolshoi, highlights the fairy-tale elements and restored choreography. The company, celebrated for its classical technique, is returning to London following a successful sold-out performance two years prior. She describes Odette as a symbol of pure femininity and Odile as dynamic yet tasteful. Ananiashvili is also planning tours to Italy, the USA, Canada, and Turkey, along with seeking a resident choreographer.