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Ballet Stories – Don Quixote
March 15 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Ballet Stories was back this March! And we brought our audience to Spain, where the timeless tale of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes comes to life through ballet!
For those who were unable to join us, we’re bringing the magic to you – right here! Dive into the characters and story of ballet’s most beloved romantic comedy, just as we shared at the event. Let’s unravel the story together!
History
Don Quixote is a ballet in 3 acts, based on the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. The most famous and enduring ballet adaptation was created by Marius Petipa, and the composer Ludwig Minkus. Petipa first created the work for the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow which premiered on 26 December 1869 to great success.
Petipa and Minkus revised the ballet into a more elaborate and expansive version in 5 acts and 11 scenes for the Mariinsky Ballet, 2 years later on 21 November 1871 in St. Petersburg. Alexander Gorsky staged a more modern version of the ballet based on Petipa’s choreography for the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow in 1900.
The famous Grand Pas de Deux of Kitri and Basilio from the ballet’s final scene was staged in the West as early as the 1940s and is often performed as a standalone excerpt of the ballet. It features technically demanding variations and remarkable partnering.
Main Characters of the ballet, Don Quixote
Kitri / Dulcinea – Daughter of an innkeeper
Basilio – Barber, in love with Kitri
Don Quixote – A middle-aged gentleman loves reading and adventures
Lorenzo – Innkeeper, father of Kitri
Gamache – Foppish and rich nobleman who wants to marry Kitri
Sancho Panza – Loyal companion of Don Quixote
Choreography: Marius Petipa & Alexander Gorsky
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Prologue
Don Quixote is reading in his study. He delights in stories of brave knights, fabulous giants and other fantastical creatures, but most of all, he dreams of his beloved Dulcinea, a woman he believes to be so lovely and noble. He decides to set off on his travels in search of adventures. He chooses the loyal Sancho Panza, as his sword-bearer companion.
Act 1 – A Marketplace in Barcelona
At a square in Barcelona, festivities and dancing are taking place. Kitri, daughter of the innkeeper, is flirting with Basilio, the barber, who is in love with her. Finding them together Lorenzo, Kitri’s father, chases Basilio away. Lorenzo does not like the poor barber. He wants Kitri to marry the rich nobleman Gamache. Kitri refuses outright to submit to her father’s will.
The crowd welcomes a street dancer and the famous toreador, Espada. At the appearance of a knight on horseback, the people are struck with astonishment. This is Don Quixote accompanied by his sword bearer, Sancho Panza. Lorenzo invites Don Quixote into the inn. Sancho Panza is left in the square where he is surrounded by girls who induce him to take part in a game of blind man’s bluff. Then some boys bring in a blanket on which they place Sancho and proceed to toss him into the air. Don Quixote hurries to his assistance and sets him free.
Kitri returns, Don Quixote thinks she is the beautiful Dulcinea whom he has seen in his dreams and ‘the lady of his heart’ and tries to dance with her. Kitri and Basilio decide to sneak away. Lorenzo, Gamache and Don Quixote set out to look for her.
Act 2, Scene 1 – A Camp of Gypsies Outside the Village
Fleeing from Lorenzo and Gamache, the two lovers, Kitri and Basilio, wander into a gypsy camp. Gypsies start to dance. Soon Don Quixote appears in the camp. The gypsies invite Don Quixote to watch a marionette show they are about to perform.
As Don Quixote watches the performance engrossed. He forgets it is theatre, and feels he needs to protect the princess against the bad. Catching sight of the windmill, he mistakes it for an evil giant. Don Quixote attacks the windmill with his spear, gets caught in the mill sail, is lifted off the ground, and falls.
Scene 2 – The Dream
Wounded in the forest, Sancho Panza settles Don Quixote down to sleep, while he runs off for help. Don Quixote dreams he is a knight in the beautiful Kingdom of the Dryads. He sees Dulcinea, ‘the lady of his heart’, surrounded by Dryads (tree nymphs or spirits), fairies and cupids.
Morning breaks and Kitri and Basilio wake up only just in time, for Lorenzo and Gamache are close upon them. The lovers flee. Now sympathetic to the young lovers’ situation, Don Quixote, sends Lorenzo and Gamache on a false trail. The chase goes on.
Scene 3 – The Square
People are gathering for a fiesta at an inn. Among them Kitri and Basil. Lorenzo interrupts them. He insists Gamache and Kitri must get married. Basil enters in a rage, draws a sword and stabs himself. The villagers blame Gamache for the death of Basil and thorws him out. Kitri begs Don Quixote to persuade Lorenzo let her marry Basilio – it was the young man’s final wish before his death. Don Quixote made Lorenzo give their love his blessing. Lorenzo blesses the lovers. Basilio springs to his feet.
Act 3 – The Wedding
The village celebrates the wedding of Kitri and Basilio. With Don Quixote as the guest of honour, the happy lovers dance for him. This is where the famous Grand pas de deux takes place.
Don Quixote congratulates them, then bids farewell to all. Together with Sancho Panza, Don Quixote in search of new adventures.