Don Quixote

The opening performance of the 1st International Ballet Festival is the playful and temperamental ballet Don Quixote about a dreamer and nobleman Don Quixote de la Mancha and the innocent and sincere love between barber Basilio and an innkeeper’s daughter, Kitri, betrothed by her father to marry of a wealthy nobleman.

Don Quixote is a classical ballet by composer Ludwig Minkus to the libretto and choreography by Marius Petipa. It is the choreographer’s first and most famous Spanish-themed full-length ballet, which received its premiere in Moscow in 1869. In 1900, choreographer Alexander Gorsky presented his revival of the ballet for the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. In his reworking of the ballet, Gorky added distinctive dances performed by the corps de ballet, investing the piece with vitality, rhythmic flow and playfulness. 

The Don Quixote ballet is a brilliant overture to the dreamy Dance Nights – Ljubljana’s 1st International Ballet Festival. 

Dance Nights afterparties

To welcome in the summer with dancing, we are hosting themed get-togethers featuring ambient music, drinks and exchanges of opinions every night between Friday, 23 June, and Sunday, 25 June, after Dance Nights performances. In summer, the idyllic setting of Cankarjev dom’s park provides the perfect venue for pleasant evening gatherings. 

On Friday, 23 June, and Saturday, 24 June, our disc jockey will be DJ Borka, one of this year's artistic directors of the 64th Jazz Festival Ljubljana. One of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year brings jazz and creative music to Cankarjev dom and Križanke open-air theatre between 5 and 8 July (www.ljubljanajazz.si). The Saturday Dance Nights afterparty will be a special tune-up for the 64th Jazz Festival Ljubljana. 

May Dance Nights bring together ballet artists and dance lovers also after curtain call.
We look forward to enjoying your company!