National Ballet's Enriched Don Quixote Performance... Corps de Ballet of Forest Fairies Increased to 24 Members

May 5-9 Performances at Seoul Arts Center Opera House

The National Ballet Company will perform an enriched version of 'Don Quixote' at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center from the 5th to the 9th. In Act 2, Scene 1, 'Don Quixote's Dream,' the corps de ballet of forest fairies will be significantly increased from 16 to 24 dancers, presenting a new Don Quixote.

The ballet Don Quixote is based on the novel of the same name by Spanish playwright Cervantes and was first performed in 1869 with choreography by Marius Petipa. The National Ballet Company has been performing Don Quixote since 1991, and last year, soloist and choreographer Song Jeong-bin created a new choreography of Don Quixote exclusively for the company. Song Jeong-bin made his full-length ballet choreographer debut in 2020 with 'The Pirates' and presented his second full-length ballet work, Don Quixote, last year.

Don Quixote Act 2 Scene 1 'Don Quixote's Dream'
[Photo by Son Ja-il, provided by the National Ballet]

In the second performance of Don Quixote choreographed by Song Jeong-bin, changes are made to Act 2, Scene 1, the Don Quixote's Dream scene. Act 2, Scene 1 depicts the dream of Don Quixote, who faints after crashing into a windmill at the end of Act 1. In his dream, Don Quixote meets his ideal woman and experiences a happy moment. At this time, forest fairies and Cupids appear to cheer for Don Quixote. While there were 16 fairies in last year's performance, this year the number will increase to 24. The National Ballet Company explained that to enhance the richness of the stage, Artistic Director and Principal Dancer Kang Su-jin and choreographer Song Jeong-bin agreed to significantly increase the number of corps de ballet dancers.

The lead roles of Kitri and Basilio in the ballet Don Quixote will be performed by Jo Yeon-jae and Lee Jae-woo, Shim Hyun-hee and Ha Ji-seok, and Ahn Soo-yeon and Kim Ki-wan. Ahn Soo-yeon is a rising star who made her lead debut in the March performance of 'Swan Lake.'

Lee Jae-woo will also perform the role of Don Quixote. Lee Jae-woo played Don Quixote in last year's performance, and in addition to him, Byun Seong-wan and Lee Yoo-hong will newly take on the role of Don Quixote.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.