Allaverdy Balls
According to The New York Times, the first Allaverdy Ball took place on December 5, 1931, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. It was organized by the Georgian-Circassian Society Allaverdy, founded in 1930 by General Konstantin Agoeff, Colonel Prince Sidamon-Eristoff, Colonel Prince Guirey, Prince Irakli Orbeliani, Hamid Bey Chejokoff, and Prince George(s) Matchabelli. The society united individuals from the Caucasus living in the United States and fostered cultural ties with Americans.
Among the Georgian founders were Prince Simon (Siko) Sidamon-Eristoff, Prince Georges Matchabelli, and Alexander Tarsaidze. The Ball’s patrons included prominent aristocratic figures such as Princess Nina of Russia (great grandaughter of Tsar Nicholas 1) who was the wide of writer and translator, Paul Chavchavadze. Other patrons included Prince and Princess Dimitri Sidamon-Eristoff, Princess Keto Mikeladze, and Prince Irakli Orbeliani. Crucially, Georgian women took the lead in organizing and orchestrating the dances.
(Debutantes in Russian Fete. The New York Times. 1936.)
(Assisting Fete of Caucasian Society Allaverdy. The New York Times. 1940.)The Allaverdy Ball became an annual tradition for local Georgians and initially, for other North Caucasians, such as the “Circassians.” The New York Times provided valuable documentation of the Ball’s most notable participants and organizers over the years.
In 1934, the Ball was organized by Princess Keto Mikeladze. Its primary goal was to raise funds for unemployed members of the Georgian diaspora in New York. Prince Georges Matchabelli served as President of the organization, Prince Irakli Orbeliani as Vice President. The event featured traditional folk dances.
By 1936, the organization had rebranded itself as the Société Caucasienne-Allaverdy. The New York Times referred to the event as a “Caucasian Festival.” The Ball’s headquarters were at 112 East 55th Street, and proceeds from the Ball continued to support poorer members of the Georgian diaspora, including the funding of educational scholarships. There were two scholarships to Georgetown University in 1936. Frequent references to the Balls in The New York Times, suggest they were celebrated cultural events in New York City.
In 1937, the Société Caucasienne-Allaverdy purchased a 55-acre property in Cold Spring, NY with Allaverdy Ball funding. It became an important summer retreat for the Georgian Diaspora. That year's Ball, held on December 3, raised funds for the new property and supported an additional Georgetown University scholarship.
In 1940, proceeds from the Ball were allocated to the American Defense Society on the eve of the US involvement in World War II. By 1941, the event included performances by George Balanchine (Balanchivadze) and the American Ballet troupe. The legacy of the Allaverdy Ball endured for decades. The New York Times later reported on the deaths of two prominent organizers: Prince Sidamon-Eristoff in 1964 and Princess Nina Georgievna in 1974.
The Allaverdy Balls sought to promote Georgian culture. Prince Sidamon-Eristoff and Prince Irakli Orbeliani played key roles not only in the Balls but also as founders and leaders of other Georgian Diasporic organizations, such as the Georgian Association in the USA (founded in 1932) and the Voice of America Georgian Service (launched in 1951). The Allaverdy Balls endured for decades, supporting new émigrés, funding education, and preserving Georgian and Caucasian culture in New York City.
(Junior Chairman and girls who are assisting her in planning dance. The New York Times. 1941.)
სვიმონ სიდამონ-ერისთავი, პორტრეტი. გურამ შარაძის კოლექცია. საქართველოს პარლამენტის ეროვნული ბიბლიოთეკა. English: Simon Sidamon-Eristoff, Portrait. Guram Sharadze Collection. National Parliamentary Library of Georgia)
ქეთო მიქელაძე, პორტრეტი. საქართველოს საპატრიარქოს ტელევიზია „ერთსულოვნება.“ საქართველოს პარლამენტის ეროვნული ბიბლიოთეკა. English: Ket(t)o Mikeladze, Portrait. Georgian Patriarchate Television “Ertsulovneba.” National Parliamentary Library of Georgia.)
გიორგი მაჩაბელი, პორტრეტი. საქართველოს პარლამენტის ეროვნული ბიბლიოთეკა. English: George(s) Matchabelli, Portrait. National Parliamentary Library of Georgia.)