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Georgia Singing Journey

Western Georgia 21-29 June 2024

Georgian polyphony is not just about singing;

it is a way of relating to one another.

9-DAY 

JOURNEY 

IN GEORGIA


Singing & Voice

Daily workshops led by expert local singers & voice coaches

Movement & Meditation

Daily practice to balance your body and spirit

Local Excursions

Trips to sites of natural beauty and cultural significance

Georgian Polyphony

Part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Georgian polyphonic singing generally consists of three voice parts that are sung a capella. Each one of the 16 provinces of Georgia has its own signature style.

Georgian songs pervade all areas of daily life, from ploughing the fields to curing illnesses. They are sung at home, at work, at festivals, or when in love and in mourning.

Polyphonic singing emerged in the Caucasus several hundred years before it appeared in Western Europe. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus refers to Georgian music as early as in 480 BC.


Embodied Voice

Embodied voice practice is a holistic approach to vocal training that emphasizes the integration of the body, breath, and voice. It explores sounds through and beyond speech and song.

Embodied voice practice involves mindfulness, movement, and somatic awareness techniques designed to develop a deeper understanding of one's vocal potential and imagination.

Artists & Teachers

Meet your guides and local hosts

Holly, Olga, and Swan met thanks to their passion for Georgian singing and embodied voice work. They have all worked with Frank Kane, a leading expert on Georgian music, as well as with various traditional singers.

Nino and the Chamgeliani sisters sing the songs of their forebears, thus preserving and continuing the polyphonic singing tradition of their motherland. Listen to Nino's ensemble Ialoni and to the Chamgeliani sisters.

Listen to Holly's interviews with Nino on healing songs and circle dances and with the Chamgeliani sisters on the rituals of their "Singing Village" from Voices of the Ancestors, a podcast about Georgian songs and the women who sing them.

Click on the person to find out about them.

Swan Dao is a singer, speaker, coach, and experience designer passionate about harnessing the power of art for healing and transformation...

BIO & Offering

Dr Swan Frayne-Dao

Singer, Coach, & Experience Designer

France & Vietnam

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Holly Taylor-Zuntz is a singer, choir director, and voice leader with a deep passion for Georgian polyphony...

BIO & Offering

Holly Taylor-Zuntz

Singer & Choir Director

England

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Authentic Voice

Olga Lidia Kozłowska is a clinical psychologist as well as a voice artist and researcher. Olga specializes in Slavic and Georgian vocal traditions as well as in improvisation and community singing...

BIO & Offering

Olga L. Kozłowska

Psychologist, Singer, & Voice Coach

Poland

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Ialoni - Megrellian songs

Nino Naneishvili holds a Bachelor of Arts in Piano and a Master of Sacred Music from Tbilisi State Conservatory. Nino is a lecturer at the University of Church Chant and at Rose Bruford College...

BIO & Offering

Nino Naneishvili

Singer, Choir Director, & Ethnomusicologist

Georgia

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Svan Songs

The Chamgeliani Sisters – Ana, Eka, and Madona – a rea trio coming from a long lineage of singers from the isolated and mountainous province of Svaneti. Keeping their oral tradition alive...

BIO & Offering

The Chamgeliani Sisters

Singers & Ethnomusicologists

Georgia

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The Journey

21-29 June 2024

Over our 9-day journey we will stay in two main locations in rural Western Georgia. Our days will include traditional singing, embodied voice work, movement and meditation, as well as trips to various sites of cultural significance and natural beauty.

Day 1

Meet in Kutaisi, the historic capital of Georgia at 2pm. Drive into the ancient Kingdom of Colchis (present-day Samegrelo). We will be met by our hosts at Nino Naneishvili’s Ethnohouse in the Hamlet of Ledzadzame, where we will stay for 3 nights.

Day 2

Learn traditional Megrellian songs from Nino Naneishvili. Swim in the Tekhuri River, home to the legend of Jason and the golden fleece. Savour traditional home-cooked Megrellian cuisine.

Day 3


Bathe in the hot mineral waters of ‘Deda-Moka’ steaming sulphur waterfall. Visit the ancient archaeological site and church in Nokalekevi.

Day 4

Depart to the vast mountain ranges of Svaneti. We will be met by our hosts in the Singing Village of Lakhushdi where we will stay for 5 nights.

Day 1

Meet in Kutaisi, the historic capital of Georgia at 2pm. Drive into the ancient Kingdom of Colchis (present-day Samegrelo). We will be met by our hosts at Nino Naneishvili’s Ethnohouse in the Hamlet of Ledzadzame, where we will stay for 3 nights.

Day 2

Learn traditional Megrellian songs from Nino Naneishvili. Swim in the Tekhuri River, home to the legend of Jason and the golden fleece. Savour traditional home-cooked Megrellian cuisine.

Day 3


Bathe in the hot mineral waters of ‘Deda-Moka’ steaming sulphur waterfall. Visit the ancient archaeological site and church in Nokalekevi.

Day 4

Depart to the vast mountain ranges of Svaneti. We will be met by our hosts in the Singing Village of Lakhushdi where we will stay for 5 nights.

Day 5

Learn traditional Svan songs from the Chamgeliani sisters.

Day 6

Visit the sacred site of Tanghili, home to ancient songs and dance rituals.

Day 7

Visit the living museum of Ushghuli, Europe’s highest village, preserved by UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage.

Day 8

Recap all songs learnt on the trip. Rest in the spring flower-filled meadows.

Day 9

Depart to the town of Zugdidi, where we will have lunch in the folk house with master chef and singer Beso Chitanava. Depart to Kutaisi. Arrival late afternoon.

Coming together in nature through

voice, vibration, and local tradition.

The Land

Discover The georgian Mountains

How to get there

THE REGION

Samagrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Svaneti is the most mountainous region of Georgia. It has the tallest mountain in the country, Mount Shkara at 5,193 meters (17,037 feet). Svaneti is also known for its breathtaking landscapes and picturesque medieval villages with tower houses erected in the 9th-12th centuries.

A HOMESTAY EXPERIENCE

Ledzadzame

We will stay in a traditional wooden Megrellian house, called an Oda, which belonged to Nino’s grandmother and has recently been renovated to accommodate guest singers.

Lakhushdi

Lakhushdi is also known as “The Singing Village” as two thirds of the families living in this small hamlet sing traditional songs steeped in the mountainous landscape and rich in local legends.

LOCAL FOOD

Nutritious and healthy local meals will be prepared with care on site and composed primarily of organic, local, and seasonal ingredients. We are happy to cater to special diets on request. Tea and snacks will be available throughout the day.

Join Us

The Institute of Devotional Arts is committed to being a force for peace and effective altruism. Your ticket supports the International Rescue Committee and The Humane League. Click on more info to find out more about tickets.

TICKETS

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FREE

€ 2,998.00

€ 2,998.00

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Accommodation for 9 days / 8 nights

All meals, snacks, and drinks

All activities, excursions, and classes

All transportation within Georgia

Early Bird

FREE

€ 1,194.00

€ 1,194.00

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schedule A CALL

The journey was truly transformative for me. It was thoughtfully planned and skilfully guided. The depth of connection that emerged among the participants was remarkable.

Dr Dorothy Watt | Naturopath | England

I returned home renewed, feeling closer to my true self and more connected to others. Experiencing Georgian music in its homeland, guided by masterful local singers, was unforgettable and magical.

Gökçe Oğultekin | Filmmaker| Turkey

It was a soothing, nourishing, and incredibly culturally enriching experience that helped me fully unwind, leaving me deeply inspired and with a profound sense of musical bliss.

Dragana Avokadovic | Performer | Austria

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