SOLIKO VIRSALADZE

Simon (Soliko) Virsaladze (1909-1989) was a Georgian scenographer, and one of the leading figures of world theater painting in the 20th century. He studied at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1927-1928), the Moscow Institute of Art and Technology, and the Leningrad Academy of Arts (1928-1931). At various times, Virsaladze worked as head scenic painter of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater, the Leningrad Theater of Opera and Ballet, and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Virsaladze's creative work helped to develop the identity of Russian classical ballet, which today we consider to be classical ballet. 

The pinnacle of his work is probably represented by such ballets as The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty. Soliko Virsaladze invented Georgian dance costumes with Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvilebi.