Don Quixote, an internationally acclaimed performance by The Israel Ballet

Overview

Don Quixote is one of the most joyous and festive ballets, brimming with spectacular virtuoso dance performances.  The Israel Ballet is the only company in Israel performing the classical ballets of the international repertoire, and garners rave reviews wherever they perform.

The superb choreography, beautiful costumes, and enchanting music will thrill you.

Tickets: $50, $45, $42, $39 

TICKET SALES FOR THIS PERFORMANCE HAVE NOW BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.   CALL 1-877-571-7469 OR VIST theIr web site (see link below) 

Related Sites

• Hanover Theatre Web Site for Ticket Orders

Program

Today Don Quixote is considered one of the most joyous and festive of the classical ballets, brimming with spectacular virtuoso dancing. At the same time this abundance of dancing is well organised, showing a clear choreographic and dramatic vision.

A short prologue based on mime action is followed by an act called A Square in Barcelona, in which classical choreography imitating the "Spanish Style" is predominant, with a sprinkling of character dances.

The second act, The Gypsy Camp, comes as a sharp contrast- here pantomime and characters dancing reign supreme (although some 15 years ago this scene also contained a lyrical pas de deux for the two main characters).

The next act, Dulcinea's Garden, is a purely classical one in which only female dancers appear. This is followed by A Tavern in Seville; once again, there is plenty of character dancing and acting- and traditionally, even the ballerina wears heeled shoes in the scene.

The final wedding celebration is an extended classical grand pas with the now famous pas de deux of the main characters.

The characters of the ballet do much more than just perform their numerous variations, however; they express their thoughts and emotions through dancing, and each character has his or her own idiosyncrasies which are expressed in the choreography itself.

Don Quixote is also distinguished by what can be called its democratic spirit: the only "noble cavalier" in the ballet is Gamache, and he is the butt of everyone's jokes and tricks. Don Quixote himself is treated with an increasing irony, friendly though it may be. By contrast, Kitri and Basilio are heroes of the people; they belong to the crowd and the crowd interferes in their lives without any second thoughts.

About the Artists

The Israel Ballet is the only company in Israel performing the great classical and neo-classical ballets of the international repertoire.  The company was founded in 1967 by Berta Yampolsky and Hillel Markman who have ontinued to be its Artistic Directors until the present day.

The debut performance of The Israel Ballet took place on the 25th of Januar 1967 in the Rina Cinema, Holon.  In 1975 the renowned choreographer George Ballanchine granted The Israel Ballet permission to perform his ballet "Serenade" and the recognition, implicit in his consent, was a giant step forward for the company, endowing it with an intenational status.  Six years later, after seeing a performance by the company in New York, Balanchine announced, to the excitement of the dancers, that he would give permission to perform his works, free of charge.  Since then the company has mounted several Balanchine ballets, among them - "Concerto Barocco", Square Dance", "La Valse", "The Four Temperaments" and "Symphony in C".

The Israel Ballet has a rich and varied repertoire and in addtion to George Balanchine's famous neo-classical works they also perform the great classical and modern full length ballets like "The Nutcracker", "The Sleeping Beauty", "Cinderella", "Onegin", "Romeo and Juliet", "Don Quixote", and "Giselle".

Today, The Israel Ballet is a company of dancers from all over the world, among them native Israelis, new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and guests who have been selected by audition.  In the year 2000 The Israel Ballet was awarded The Minister of Culture's Prize for the high artistic and technical leve achieved by the dancers of the company.  Since its establishment The Israel Ballet has performed at prominent festivals all over the world, earning recognition and bringing honor to the State of Israel.  In 1977 the company set out on its first tour of the United States, and since then a further two tours to the Americas, icluding Argentina and Chile, have been undertaken and the dancers praised enthusiasticallly from coast to coast.  The company has toured China twice as well as touring Turkey, Finland, Germany, Austria, The United Kingdom, Malta, Hungary, and Italy.  In 2004 - thirty years after its foundation - the company officially opened its own home in the center of Tel Aviv.  The facility also embraces the foremost school in Israel for the study of classical ballet - The Classical Ballet Center - the official school of The Israel Ballet.