Don Quixote

Don Quixote, a dreamer with a heart full of chivalry, sets off on a grand adventure with his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Along the way, they cross paths with Kitri, a spirited young woman in love with the charming but penniless Basilio. When her father insists she marry the absurd nobleman Gamache instead, Kitri and Basilio make a daring escape, leading to a whirlwind of adventure through lively village streets, a moonlit gypsy camp, and a raucous tavern. Don Quixote, ever the romantic, mistakes Kitri for his ideal love, Dulcinea, but soon realizes her heart belongs to Basilio. After some clever trickery, plenty of bold dancing, and one ill-fated battle with a windmill, love wins the day, and Kitri and Basilio celebrate their long-awaited wedding. With his mission complete, Don Quixote bids them farewell and rides off in search of his next impossible dream.

Prologue:
Fueled by grand dreams of chivalry and romance, the ever-hopeful Don Quixote sets off on his noble quest, with his loyal sidekick Sancho Panza by his side. In his mind, he is a true knight, destined for adventure—and, of course, for love.

Act I: Sevilla
In a bustling Spanish village, Kitri dreams of a life with Basilio, the charming but penniless barber she loves. But her father, Lorenzo, has other ideas—he wants her to marry the ridiculous (and outrageously dressed) nobleman, Gamache. Just as tempers flare, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza arrive, creating quite a stir. When Don Quixote lays eyes on Kitri, he wonders—could she be his long-lost Dulcinea? Amid the lively festivities, Kitri and Basilio seize their chance to escape, with their friends Espada and Mercedes helping them slip away. Hot on their heels, Lorenzo and Gamache take off in pursuit, with Don Quixote and Sancho not far behind.

Act II, Scene 1: The Gypsy Camp
Under the moonlight, Kitri and Basilio find refuge in a welcoming gypsy camp. The night is filled with music, dancing, and the spirit of adventure. Don Quixote, enchanted by the atmosphere, has a vision of his perfect Dulcinea—and suddenly realizes Kitri already belongs with Basilio. But just as he gains clarity, trouble stirs. The wind picks up, and in true Don Quixote fashion, he mistakes a towering windmill for a fearsome giant. With fearless determination, he charges into battle… and is promptly knocked out cold.

Act II, Scene 2: The Dream
While unconscious, Don Quixote drifts into a fantastical dream, where he finds himself surrounded by a vision of ethereal maidens. In this enchanted world, Kitri takes on the image of his beloved Dulcinea, reinforcing his ever-romantic ideals.

Act II, Scene 3: Sunrise
Just as Don Quixote enjoys the dream’s serenity, Lorenzo and Gamache rudely wake him. Ever the hero, Don Quixote cleverly tries to steer them off Kitri and Basilio’s trail.

Act II, Scene 4: The Tavern
The chase ends in a lively tavern, where Lorenzo finally catches up with Kitri. Determined to see her wed to Gamache, he forces her to accept his decision. But Basilio, ever the trickster, fakes his own death in a dramatic display of heartbreak. Kitri, playing along, begs Don Quixote to convince her father to grant her dying love’s last wish—to marry her. Just as Lorenzo relents, Basilio miraculously “comes back to life!” With no more obstacles in their way, Kitri and Basilio triumph at last, leaving Don Quixote to bask in his small but mighty victory.

Act III: The Wedding
The village erupts in joyous celebration as Kitri and Basilio finally tie the knot. Don Quixote, ever the dreamer, bids the happy couple farewell and sets off once more in search of his next great adventure.

Marius Petipa (1818–1910) was the mastermind behind some of ballet’s most legendary works, shaping the art form as we know it today. Born in France, he found his true home in Russia, where he became the chief architect of classical ballet, creating iconic productions like The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. With a genius for storytelling and choreography that blends grandeur with technical brilliance, Petipa’s influence spans centuries, setting the stage—literally—for the dazzling ballets we cherish. His legacy lives on in every soaring leap, intricate pattern, and breathtaking finale that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Santo Loquasto (b. 1941) is an acclaimed American designer whose career spans theater, film, and ballet. With numerous Tony Award nominations and a diverse portfolio that includes designs for The Good Wife, The Producers, and The Squid and the Whale, Loquasto is known for his ability to create immersive, visually captivating worlds.

For Don Quixote, he brings his signature flair for color, texture, and detail to the stage, transporting audiences to the vibrant landscapes of Spain. From the lively, bold costumes of the toreadors to the iconic ruffled dress of Kitri, his designs capture the heart and spirit of this spirited ballet. Loquasto’s sets further enhance the drama, with sun-soaked village streets, enchanting gypsy camps, and grand festive scenes that pulse with energy. His work on Don Quixote exemplifies his mastery of both theatrical storytelling and visual beauty, ensuring every moment of the ballet resonates with passion, adventure, and a timeless sense of wonder.

When Marius Petipa first brought Don Quixote to life in 1869, it was a triumph that cemented his place in ballet history. Ironically, it wasn’t for his home company, the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg, but for the bold and flamboyant Bolshoi in Moscow. A perfect match for Petipa’s flair, the ballet embraced the lively spirit of Spain, a place he had danced in as a young man, and infused the work with a fresh dose of local color. The bustling public plaza where much of the action unfolds broke away from the typical mythological or fairy-tale settings of the time, creating a more grounded, vibrant atmosphere.

But when Petipa revived the ballet in 1871 for the more refined tastes of the Mariinsky audience, he swapped the street-level realism for classical grandeur—bringing in more formal variations and an entirely new last act focused on divertissements. This back-and-forth reinvention became a hallmark of classical ballet, with even the Bolshoi’s Alexander Gorsky re-staging the ballet in 1900, restoring the original vitality and real-life texture that Petipa had first envisioned.

While Don Quixote wasn’t the first ballet inspired by Cervantes’ epic novel—earlier versions had been created by the likes of Noverre, Didelot, and Bournonville—it is the Petipa/Gorsky version that has remained the definitive take, continuously revived and reworked over the years. With its lively love story, quirky characters, and the larger-than-life presence of Don Quixote himself, the ballet is full of life. And Minkus’s irresistible score, with its playful rhythms and Spanish flair, provides the perfect backdrop for a whirlwind of choreography—from swirling skirts and passionate gypsies to bold bullfighters, comical antics, and the unforgettable Don Quixote Pas de Deux.

With its rich Hispanic flavor and endless possibilities for both dramatic street scenes and virtuosic classical dancing, Don Quixote is a natural fit for Miami City Ballet. It's a ballet that celebrates vibrant storytelling, passionate characters, and breathtaking dance—making it the perfect addition to our diverse repertoire.