Russian dance company at UNLV

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:30 a.m.

For those interested in folk dance, this is the "Cadillac" of the art form. The program in UNLV's World Dance Series and Expressions Series will include "Partsa," one of the oldest European dances, and "Khorumi,' a popular dance dating back to a war against the conquering armies of the Turks and the Mongolians. Also on the agenda will be the "Kasbeksky Dance," a traditional dance of the people who live near the Kasbek mountain, and the "Simd," an ancient wedding dance still performed in Georgia, where the black costumes of the men, with their long sleeves and colored caps, sharply contrast with the snow-white attire worn by the women.

The Georgian State Dance Company has performed all over the world, including a 1967 performance at La Scala in Italy. It is believed to be the only time that a folklore group has performed in that bastion of opera.

Tengiz Sukhishvili is artistic director and choreographer of the company; Nina Ramishvili is chief choreographer. Like many dance companies in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Georgian State Dancers have their own school, where former dancers often become teachers and students begin studying both classical and folk dance at age 7.

Georgian folk dances reflect -- in origin and content -- the ancient ritual and ceremonial aspects of the culture as well as work and play. Although Christianity came to the region in the 4th century, a sense of paganism still prevails in the folk dances of certain remote mountain areas.

Tickets for the concert range from $18.75 to $45.50 at the Ham Hall box office, 895-3801, or at Dillard's department stores, (800) 654-9545.