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A
traveling Knight, whose journeys traversed the famed Silk Road across
the breadth of ancient Persia, found himself one night engaged in
a curious game at an unfamiliar inn. Delighted by the diversion,
the Knight played the game of chance, called The Swan's Game, for
hours as the roll of the dice dictated a series of circumstances
which mirrored the Knight's own life: distractions, romance, delays,
temptations, imprisonment, intrigue, subterfuge.
Upon
rising the following morning the Knight, named Tariel, reflected
for a moment before continuing his travels. The game the night before
had given him pause with regard to his own career, and, in a moment
of daring risk-taking, Tariel broke from his route to guide his
horse off the beaten roadaway from the expected and toward
a new adventure.
After
traveling far and long, Tariel happened upon a glorious wedding
celebration in a small village deep in the mountains of Georgia.
Marveling at the tremendous joy that surrounded all the guests,
Tariel, as he made to rest for the evening, wondered aloud how to
find such peace and happiness for himself.
To his astonishment, Tariel's query was answered by the lilting
voice of Tamar, the ethereal Lady of the Knight. This infinitely
wise, mystical woman was the embodiment of all that is Georgia including
purity, peace and wisdom. With a single proclamation, Tamar offered
Tariel the gift of an innocence by which to take a journey of a
far different nature than he had planned. Returning Tariel to a
child state (whence he was unencumbered by the veil of knowledge
and experience), Tamar sent the now young Knight on a quest to find
the grail of true and pure love.
Having
surrendered himself to the quest, the Knight was ready to begin
his journey; open to all that surrounded him although, at first,
somewhat uncertain and even unwilling to see what was placed before
him. Throughout the quest, however, Tariel found himself faced with
challenges destined to force him into making sense out of life's
contradictions. Repeatedly, Tariel was asked to choose between confidence
or doubt, war or peace, bravery or weakness, brotherhood or discord,
and free will or intolerance.
As
he struggled through the challenges to find the path destined to
lead him to the love he seeks, Tariel encountered his way strewn
with tests more difficult than he would have ever imagined. Thankfully,
he did not make his quest alone. Guiding Tariel on both the physical
journey and the transformation of his heart was Tamar. Tariel's
questions to Tamar posed possibilities. Her answers to him provided
insight and choices.
During
the show, singers, dancers and musicians illustrate the Knight's
personal journey. There are festivities and fights to paint a picture
of love and harmony and to show the nature and potential of the
human being. In the end, the Knight finally meets his guide, Tamar.
Yet, it is Tariel's discovery of the true nature of life's beauty
that grants him his unconditional love.
The
Legend of Tamar is a story that blends the country of Georgia's
perfected and centuries-old style of polyphonic singing and athletic
dancing with a story line about a Knight's search for a truer meaning
of life and all that surrounds him. It's a story for all cultures
and ages.
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