Performance

The choreographic adaptation of the Don Quixote story, directly derived from Miguel de Cervantes's work, was performed as a court ballet titled DON QUICHOTTE at the Louvre as early as 1614. Over the next 400 years, dozens of works incorporating the motif of the misguided knight were created. However, it was the ballet choreographed by the legendary Marius Petipa, with music by Ludwig A. Minkus (1869), that permanently entered the repertoire of ballet companies worldwide, passed down by successive generations of choreographers.

 

The popularity of this ballet undoubtedly stems from the picturesque charm of old Spain, alluring Gypsies, and flamboyant toreadors. Above all, the knight from La Mancha, the comical Sancho Panza, and the bumbling Gamache always enjoy the greatest success with audiences. Additionally, the main characters, Kitri and Basilio, have no equals in the classical repertoire in terms of grace, temperament, and dance virtuosity. All of these elements create a captivating showcase of classical dance in Spanish style.