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Democratic Dance
Israel Ballet does Don Quixote at Hanover
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After nearly 300 years of history, Don Quixote has evolved into a work befitting modernity. The ballet was originally conceived by Marius Petipa with recent incarnations deriving from a 1900 version staged by Alexander Gorsky for the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. These stagings include a performance on February 20, 2010 at the Hanover Theatre by the Israel Ballet. Presented by Music Worchester, the ballet stands as one of the most popular performed today.
Best described as a celebration of life, Don Quixote is full of exuberant dancing and spectacular characters. The ballet also incorporates a variety of styles. The first of these can be found in the prologue, which uses a mime effect, followed by an act called “A Square in Barcelona”, in which Spanish choreography blends with classical to create an enticing style. The second act, “The Gypsy Dance” consists mainly of character dances, a staple that defines the democratic and entertaining nature of the ballet. In Don Quixote dancers do not simply dance. There is considerable acting taking place on stage, with pantomiming, heeled dancing and character idiosyncrasies all marking the individual elements of each dancer. But these individuals rarely outshine one another, creating an ensemble effect that speaks to the egalitarian nature of the ballet.
Don Quixote, performed by the Israel Ballet will be presented at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on February 20, 2010 at 8 pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehanovertheatre.org.