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Fun Facts about Don Quixote

Created for Dutch National Ballet in February 2010
U.S. and PNB premiere in February 2012
Alexei Ratmansky is one of the most sought after choreographers working today and is currently the Choreographer in Residence at American Ballet Theater

Alexei Ratmansky was the Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet from 2004-2008 where Don Quixote first premiered in 1869
It took 8 shipping containers to transport the sets from Amsterdam to Seattle
The production originally cost $3 million to build and will cost PNB $860,000 to premiere
The production includes 280 costumes and props, including 47 wigs and hairpieces (made in Bali) requiring the work of 8 hair and make-up staff at each performance

For 3 of the 6 PNB principal couples in Don Quixote this is their first time in the roles
PNB is about half the size of Dutch National Ballet and some dancers will change costumes up to 5 times in one performance
The hats worn by the Torreodors are authentic matador hats made in Madrid and cost $800 each
The production will be set on PNB by 3 stagers and the choreographer over the course of 3 months
The production includes 24 children from PNB School

The masks for the 6 monsters in Don Quixote were made by a company that worked on the Lord of the Rings movies
Dutch National Ballet made duplicates of many of the costumes so many have never been worn

Photos Courtesy of Dutch National Ballet

Don Quixote

Join the Fan Club!

"Alexei Ratmansky is a master storyteller and his Don Quixote is fresh, funny, and technically spectacular with some of the most beautiful set and costume designs I’ve seen." —Peter Boal, Artistic Director

In February 2012, PNB will present the U.S. premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's Don Quixote to Seattle audiences. Created for the Dutch National Ballet in 2010, this fresh take on the timeless Spanish classic is a feast for the eyes. The full scale production includes three acts of beautiful scenery and 280 elaborate costumes and props by renowned designer Jérôme Kaplan including tutus, capes, castanets and, of course, fans.

Presenting such a large scale production is not possible without the generosity of donors like you. For a gift of $1,000 or more to the New Works Initiative this season, you can become a member of the Don Quixote Fan Club. In exchange for your generous contribution, you will receive insider access to the staging of the ballet and be invited to an exclusive backstage reception to view the sets and costumes before the ballet premieres. With your help, the curtain will rise on this beloved addition to the PNB repertory.

To join the Don Quixote Fan Club, contact Lilah Helton in PNB’s Development Office at 206.441.3594 or LHelton@pnb.org.