Debuts in Don Quixote

The ballet Don Quixote has had a rich and eventful history on the St Petersburg stage with revisions, innovations and cuts. The version of the ballet currently in the Mariinsky Theatre’s repertoire retains the fruits of several choreographers’ labour. Originally staged in St Petersburg in 1871 by Marius Petipa, the production was revised in 1902 by Alexander Gorsky. In the Soviet era Gorsky’s version also came to be revised – in 1923 Don Quixote saw the inclusion of character dances by Fyodor Lopukhov and, in 1946, by Nina Anisimova.

Fyodor Lopukhov was a subtle stylist who was brilliant at composing dance “in the folklore spirit.” In his work, on numerous occasions he turned to national themes and, in the name of authenticity of dance characteristics, he travelled on folklore expeditions. The current production features his choreography of the Spanish Fandango. It is in this dance that Trofim Malanov will be making his debut, having recently joined the Mariinsky Ballet, until March this year performing at the Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The Gypsy Dance will be performed for the first time by Maria Shevyakova, who has already made a name for herself as a character dancer. Staged by Nina Anisimova, the Gypsy Dance requires temperament and vivid expressiveness from its performers. Nina Anisimova had all these traits in abundance – one of the most colourful performers of the character repertoire of her age, she also created her own productions based on her dancers’ broad emotional range.

In the classical scene Don Quixote’s Dream, the role of Amour will be performed by Renata Shakirova, a recent graduate of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.