Australia Dancing - Don Quixote

Don Quixote

Stringer, Walter: Bryan Ashbridge in 'Don Quixote', the Australian Ballet, 1979

A ballet based on the novel Don Quixote by Cervantes first made its appearance in Australia on 5 April 1926. A two act version with choreography by Laurent Novikoff after Petipa was performed by Anna Pavlova's company, which was then touring Australia. The role of Kitri/Dulcinea was danced by Pavlova, Basilio by Novikoff and the Don by M. Domoslavski.

Perhaps the best known of the productions to have been performed in Australia since then is that of Rudolf Nureyev. Nureyev first staged an evening length Don Quixote in 1966 for the Vienna Staatsoper Ballett. Choreography was credited to Nureyev after Petipa and the production was firmly based on the one Nureyev knew from his days with the Kirov Ballet. He revised his Vienna production for the Australian Ballet in 1970 when, as guest artist, he danced Basilio partnering Lucette Aldous as Kitri. With sets and costumes by Barry Kay the inaugural performance also featured Robert Helpmann as the Don and Ray Powell as Sancho Panza. It premiered in Adelaide on 28 March. Nureyev returned to Australia in 1972 to direct a filmed version of his production, which was released in 1973. The Australian Ballet has toured its Don Quixote internationally on many occasions. New set designs were created by Anne Fraser for a restaging in 1993 although the costumes by Barry Kay were retained. Since its first performance by the Australian Ballet with Aldous and Nureyev in the leading roles, Nureyev's production has remained in the repertoire of the flagship company, with Kitri and Basilio danced by all the major principal artists. It was last performed in 2007, when guest artist Ethan Stiefel performed as Basilio during the Melbourne and Sydney seasons.

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Find more about Don Quixote in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia