Beyond NYC: “Don Quixote” by National Ballet of Ukraine at NJPAC

Immortal story of Don Quixote in traditional staging by the celebrated National Ballet of Ukraine on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 7.30pm

Ballet Don Quixote NJPAC Ukraine — Don Quixote, National Ballet of Ukraine; choreographer V. Lytvynov, costumes by V. Arif’ev / Image courtesy of National Opera of Ukraine

Classical ballet Don Quixote brings in a swirl of dances, colors, and joyous serenading to love and beauty. It is a perfect choice to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ukraine Ballet company. The production is full of lavish decorations and extravagant dances which are choreographed following the classical version of the ballet created by Marius Petipa. With the National Ballet of Ukraine long-rooted tradition in classical dance and impeccable technique, the performance at the New Jersey Performing Art Center will make a delightful and cheerful experience for the audience. Book your tickets here and save 25% when buying 4 tickets Select ME+3 for the ticket type.

Ballet Don Quixote was created by no other than a Maître de Ballet choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludvig Minkus for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg. The first version has sumptuously premiered in 1869 and continues to stay in the repertoires of every classical ballet house to this day. The scenes in the ballet are based on episodes taken from the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. Since its premiere, the ballet’s libretto had several minor revisions by Petipa himself. A version that is used now is made by Alexander Gorsky in early 1900s for the Imperial Ballet. All modern productions are following that version. Anna Pavlova ballet company had brought the ballet to Europe in 1924. In Kiev, Don Quixote ballet had premiered in 1927. Balanchine, Nureyev, Baryshnikov all tried their takes at staging and choreographing the famous material.

Petipa had turned to choreography in 1868 when he stopped dancing himself and became Maître de Ballet at the Imperial theater. Don Quixote was his first full-scale choreographic work. The overwhelming success and public adoration had inspired the maestro to give us 16 more masterpieces such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere. But all that had happened later; the first major success came with the Don Quixote. At that time in Russia, the roman by Cervantes was gaining its popularity. So it was only natural that Petipa who was educated on the romantic ideas had used the story to realize his genius in choreography. A collaboration with Ludvig Minkus was another happy turn.

Minkus, a violinist and a composer trained in Vienna, was conducting the imperial orchestra at the time. A meeting with Petipa and their collaboration had put him in line with the great composers of the 19th century. Working together with Petipa, Minkus had written music to 16 other ballets for the Imperial theater. Minkus knew the rules of ballet and the tastes of the public and had masterfully mixed in his music the solo parts, the mass scenes, the twists of the story, the rhythm of Spanish songs and even the breathing intervals for the dancers. Together with the genius of Petipa in placing accents on the youthful fete and party scenes rather than the deep ideas of Cervantes’s novel resulted in a beloved ballet for the audiences around the world. This production is made by Victor Lytvynov.

Come and enjoy the flawless technique, extravagant costumes, bright colors of sunny Spain, and beautiful dances at the only performance at NJPAC on June 1, 2018.