Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Ersioni State Folk Dance Ensemble has canceled its performance in the capital of Russia. The famous group was going to perform in the Kremlin Palace, but the founder and irreplaceable head of Ersioni, Jemal Chkuaseli, stated that he broke the contract with Russian colleagues and wouldn’t come to Moscow. A reason for this was an address by a group of “intelligent people” and representatives of non-governmental organizations to the minister of culture, urging him to deprive Ersioni of the state ensemble status. They say, while Russia prepares for a repetition of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian scenario in Ukraine, a Georgian state ensemble must not dance in the Kremlin, as it will defame Georgia in the world.
The same group of “intelligent people” stood against participation of Georgian athletes in Olympics 2014, but the authorities took a firm position, urging the society “not to politicize sport.” This time Garibashvili’s government considered positively the Moscow concert. It is unlikely that it could be planned without participation of the Ministry of Culture, so nobody intended to deprive Ersioni of the state status. However, Mr. Chkuaseli made a decision by himself, showing weak knees which are typical for Georgian intelligentsia or intelligentsia in general – Georgian, Russian, Ukrainian, and so on.
What do weak knees mean? Cancelation of the Moscow concert wasn’t a choice of heart of Jemal Chkuaseli and his group. They couldn’t resist pressure by a part of the society, which actively expresses its view through major mass media.
Several days ago Chkuaseli who is a fan of folk dancing tried to resist the social “dominant” and said that culture and beauty must not be sacrificed in favor of politics; that the Kremlin Palace is one of the best cultural platforms and to dance there is a big honor for any country and any group. Chkuaseli recalled that when German fascists were attacking Leningrad, Beethoven’s music was played in the Leningrad Philharmonic Hall – as a sign of respect to German culture.
However, the ensemble didn’t resist the pressure and decided to cancel the Moscow concert. It is not the first time that the ensemble has suffered from ostracism for its readiness to perform in the Kremlin Palace: in 2012 Ersioni danced there, and it caused loud discussions in Georgia. People expressed indignation that the concert took place… “where Putin lives.” And any arguments that the Kremlin is a historical heart of Moscow failed. Some activists decided to organize “a corridor of shame” for Ersioni at the Tbilisi airport. However other folk groups prevented it: they welcomed dancers with loud applause.
This time Jemal Chkuaseli had no enough will, firmness and faith in his own values. The concert is canceled. By the way, ahead of the previous Russian tour, members of the ensemble permanently emphasized that they thought Abkhazia and South Ossetia “occupied territories” and “integral parts of Georgia.” Those who invited the ensemble to Moscow knew about it, but didn’t pay attention to it, fortunately.
