The Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s performance of “Don Quixote” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on opening night Thursday was a skillful mix of acting, comedy and dance.
Ballet Artistic Director Alicia Alonso wrote in program notes that her attempt with this piece was to respect the tradition and style of Marius Petipa’s choreography to the music of Ludwig Minkus, which premiered at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, December 26, 1869 and become the standard ballet version of the tale, as well as incorporating “valid contributions” of the version by Alexander Gorsky from the early 1900s.
The ballet is usually performed with a more comic version of the ballet’s title character, but Alonso wrote that she found it “completely unacceptable … the treatment that was generally given to the character of Don Quixote,” and she believes the title character “deserved a major presence and respect.”
Alonso seemed to achieve this goal as the character Don Quixote (played by Leandro P/rez) did seem to have a stately and respected presence, despite the inherent comedic nature of the ballet’s libretto. However, comedy remained with the character, especially when Quixote, in his famous attack of the windmill, is thrown offstage after being caught in one of its large paddles.
As Alonso states, this is the first version of the ballet created and performed by a company whose roots are Spanish, the essence of which is demonstrated not only by the appearance of the dancers but also with certain movements, such as when Delgado shrugs her shoulders, reminiscent of a salsa or other Latin dance gesture.
As a whole, the company capably demonstrated strong dance skills; however, first dancers Anette Delgado, playing Kitri, and Dani Hern‡ndez, as her lover Basilio, especially in the third act during the virtuoso pas de deux,were thrilling to watch, bring a standing ovation at the end.
“Don Quixote” has two more performances at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: Saturday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
More information can be obtained online at www.musiccenter.org