During the Tbilisi International Ballet Festival, Opera and Ballet Theater, Pina Bausch’s Wuppertal Dance Theater presented a masterpiece of modern art, a cult performance – “Mazurka Fogo”.
The Ministry of Culture of Georgia shared glimpses of the event on its official Facebook Page on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The Ministry also shared a small note about the event along with its glimpses.
Minister of Culture Tinatin Rukhadze attended the performance with the first deputy, Maka Gurgenidze. “Congratulations to Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater on the success of the 2026 International Ballet Festival.” It is a joy that the festival united world-class stars and Georgian ballet artists once again.
The festival will be closed by the famous Pina Baushi Das. Such events strengthen the importance of Tbilisi as a cultural center and further increase international interest in Georgia,” said Tinatin Rukhadze.
After the performance, Minister of Culture of Georgia Tinatin Rukhadze congratulated Daniel Zickhouse, the artistic and executive director of Pina Baush’s Wupertal Dance Theater, on the successful completion of the performance and confirmed his readiness for future cooperation.
The direction and choreography of the cult play “Mazurka Fogo” is owned by the legendary Pina Baush herself. The performance was created within the cooperation of the 1998 Lisbon World Exhibition (EXPO 98) and the Lisbon Goethe Institute. Peter Pabst took care of the staging, costume painting by Marion Tsito, and music arrangement by Andrea Eisenschneider and Matia Burkert.
Tbilisi International Ballet Festival, which is organized by the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Tbilisi City Hall, will close on July 19, with the same performance by Pina Baush.
The festival was founded in the State Theater of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet. Its artistic director is Nino Ananiashvili. This year the festival is held for the seventh time. In the festival, together with the sister of the State Ballet of Georgia, world ballet stars, Georgian dancers from abroad, and well-known ballet sisters participate.
