The short answer: Georgian folk dance is fast, precise and athletic. The men leap, spin and land on their toes in soft leather boots; the women move so smoothly they seem to glide. Each region has its own dances, from the courtly Kartuli to the war dance Khorumi and the playful Acharuli [1]. The two big professional companies are the Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet, founded in 1945, and Erisioni, whose roots go back to 1885 [2][3]. You can see them in concert in Tbilisi, or catch smaller troupes at dinner shows in Tbilisi and Batumi.
What makes Georgian dance different
The dances grew out of old rituals, holiday celebrations and military training; the Greek geographer Strabo already described martial songs among the peoples of the region [1]. A few features stand out on stage:
- Men on their toes. Male dancers rise onto their toes in soft, unpadded leather boots, with no blocks of the kind a ballerina uses, and even jump and land that way. Boys start training young [4].
- Women who glide. Women's steps are tiny and hidden under long dresses, so they appear to float across the floor, arms and hands carrying the expression.
- Distance between partners. In the couple dances, the man never touches the woman [1].
- Speed and unison. Big ensemble pieces are drilled to split-second timing, often with daggers, swords or shields.
The dances you are likely to see
Kartuli
A slow, formal wedding dance for a couple. The man circles the woman at a respectful distance, never touching her, and the restraint is the point: it shows respect and controlled emotion [1]. Kartuli is often the most admired piece of the evening, precisely because nothing flashy happens.
Khorumi
A war dance from the south-west of Georgia, danced by a large group of men, traditionally 30–40 [1]. It tells a story in four parts: finding a place to camp, scouting the enemy camp, the fight and the victory [1]. Khorumi is on Georgia's national list of intangible cultural heritage, along with the round dance Perkhuli [1].
Acharuli
From Adjara on the Black Sea coast: a relaxed, cheerful dance of flirtation between men and women, in bright costumes [1]. It is the one audiences clap along to.
Khevsuruli and Mtiuluri
Mountain dances, competitive and acrobatic [1]. In Khevsuruli, from the high valleys of Khevsureti, two men fight with swords and shields until a woman throws her headscarf between them, which ends the fight [1]. Mtiuluri is a showcase of speed and jumps, often a contest between dancers.
Samaia and Kintouri
Samaia is danced by three women in honour of Queen Tamar, representing a young princess, a wise mother and the powerful ruler [1]. Kintouri is an urban dance that pokes fun at the merchants of old Tbilisi [1].
The ensembles
Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet
Founded in 1945 by the husband-and-wife dancers Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili as Georgia's first professional state dance company [2]. It has danced at Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Albert Hall, and in 1967 it performed at La Scala, reportedly the only time a folk group has appeared there [2]. The family still runs it, and it has its own school for children [2]. The company's gliding style is often credited with inspiring the Daleks in Doctor Who [2].
Erisioni
Erisioni began in 1885 as a choir of amateur folk singers and grew into a national song-and-dance ensemble [3]. It combines polyphonic singing with dance, and it has toured widely, including the "Georgian Legend" production staged for international audiences [3].
Other companies, among them the State Royal National Ballet, also tour and perform at home [5].
Where to watch
- Concerts in Tbilisi: Sukhishvili and Erisioni give concerts at venues such as the Tbilisi Concert Hall (the Philharmonic) when they are not on tour. Dates are irregular; check the ticket sites tkt.ge and biletebi.ge a few weeks before you travel [5]. Both companies also tour abroad, so they are not always in town.
- Dinner shows in Tbilisi: several restaurants in and around the Old Town put on evening folklore shows with dancers and singers, usually from about 20:00 [5]. The standard varies; reserve a table.
- Batumi in summer: free outdoor performances and restaurant shows run in the summer season, and the Batumi Summer Theatre hosts dance companies [5].
- Weddings and festivals: the real thing happens at village feasts, festivals and weddings, where someone always ends up dancing. You can't plan for it, but a guide with local contacts improves your chances. See our festivals by month.
Dance and song go together
Many of the same ensembles sing as well as dance, and Georgian polyphonic singing, recognised by UNESCO since 2001, is the other half of the tradition. Our guide to Georgian polyphonic singing explains where to hear it. At a supra, the traditional feast, songs come between the toasts; read about the supra, tamada and toasts.
Tips for watching
- Sit close enough to see the feet; the footwork is the heart of it.
- Photography rules differ by venue; concerts often forbid it.
- If you are invited to dance at a feast, go ahead. Nobody expects toe-work from a guest.
Seeing Georgian song and dance with us
Our tours are private. The supra and polyphony evening in Tbilisi is a dinner at a family house or cellar, with toasts led by a tamada and polyphonic songs from a group of 3–4 singers between them; book at least 3 days ahead. If a Sukhishvili or Erisioni concert is on during your stay, tell us and we plan the day around it and help with tickets, or pair the evening with the private Tbilisi city tour by day. See each tour page for the current price, or plan your own trip and we send a private itinerary with a price. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Georgian dance": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet": en.wikipedia.org
- Erisioni, "About us": erisioni.ge
- Playbill, "The Georgians are Coming!": playbill.com
- Advantour, "Georgian Dance Shows: Where to Watch in Tbilisi and Batumi": advantour.com
Last checked: September 2026. Concert dates and dinner-show schedules change; check the ticket sites before you travel.
