Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

The story of “Don Quixote” has been around since the 1600s when Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes wrote it in 1605. It first became a staged baller in Moscow and then, in a modified version, in St. Petersburg in 1871, danced to a musical score by Ludwig Minkus.

And it continues to grace theater stages across the Euro-American world to this day. One of those stages is the Tobin Center’s stage, where Ballet San Antonio will present a version of the classic story ballet this weekend. The show is an adapted version of a production that San Francisco-based teacher and choreographer, Patrick Armand, choreographed for the National Theater of Zagreb in Croatia.

Fascinated by his reading of books about knights and chivalry, the Spanish hidalgo, who names himself Don Quixote, embarks on a journey with his squire, Sancho Panza, to redress wrongs and revive the chivalry tradition.  Along the way he encounters a village girl named Kitri that he imagines to be his ideal Lady Dulcinea. Kitri has her own love story with Basilio, which is opposed by her practical father Lorenzo who wants her to marry a wealthy suitor. Ultimately, the valiant knight helps her and her lover realize their dream.

In the BSA production, Kitri is portrayed by the 20-year-old Brenna Mulligan for whom this will be the first starring role as a paid company member though she also appeared in “Night at the Castle,” BSA’s season opener last fall, which gave her the opportunity to shine in famous dances from other ballets.

“It’s very exciting for me, exciting and also nerve-wrecking,” said the dancer in a brief phone interview. “My role is very challenging,” she added. “It’s a very fun, energetic role. It requires great stamina and a lot of character portrayal which sustains the stamina. It’s a role you can get lost in. Kitri does so much in this ballet. She opens the show and she closes the show. It’s a fantastic role.”

Her partner is Benjamin Rose, whom she also described as “fantastic,” and in perfect sync with her when they dance together. Like the rest of the company, Mulligan and Rose are listed on the website only as members of the corps de ballet despite dancing principal roles.No designated soloists or principals.

Mulligan believes that things will change for the better, now that the company has a new artistic director, Sofiane Sylve, who adapted the ballet for BSA, with the help of ballet master Rafael Ferreras and Michele Dement.

“Ballet San Antonio has had a lot of ups and downs for a while with the leadership of the company,” said Mulligan. “Now that we have Sofiane, she is establishing more of a structure, and going forward we will see a more refined approach. It’s been wonderful to work under her direction.”

Dancers appearing in other roles are Alec Roth as Don Quixote; Jeremy Rohm as Sancho; Ferreras as Gamache, Kitri’s wealthy suitor; Sofie Bertolini, Michael Agudelo, Alexa Horwath, and others. San Antonio’s flamenco queen, Tamara Adira, makes a guest appearance as the Queen of the Gypsies. Students of the School of Ballet San Antonio will also populate the stage.
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Opens March 4 at 7:30 p.m.; continues March 5 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and March 6 at 2 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; 210-223-8624, tickets@tobincenter.org. For info you can also visit www.balletsanantonio.org)