Gulfshore Ballet performs “Don Quixote” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Wang Opera Center. It’s the ballet company’s third consecutive appearance at Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars.
“They've got such a great following and they just put together some really beautiful productions,” said Melanie Kalnins, Opera Naples’ Executive Director.
This production of Cervantes’ literary masterpiece features Spanish-inspired melodies, fiery characters, and original choreography by Gulfshore Ballet Artistic Directors Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero.
The performance will also feature a mix of professional, pre-professional and student dancers. But, Kalnins said, it’s hard to tell them apart.
“I was sitting in the audience last year watching ‘Sleeping Beauty,’” Kalnins recounted. “It takes a while before the lead dancers come on, and I just kept seeing more and more dancers come out and kept thinking, wait, are these the principals? Because the quality was so good. And then when the principals actually do come on, it's very clear that yes, there is a quality even better, but I would say overall, clearly Iliana and Franklin know how to really train their dancers.”
Weaving comedy, romance, and athletic virtuosity, “Don Quixote” is the perfect family-friendly ballet for those new to the art form.
The performance is at 6:30 p.m.
For tickets, telephone 239-844-SING or visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/36391/production/1247263?performanceId=11678632.
MORE INFORMATION:
Based on the novel “Don Quixote de la Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes, “Don Quixote” tells the story of the old hidalgo, who reads many chivalric romance novels. One day, with Sancho Panza as his squire, Don Quixote sets out on an adventure as a medieval knight to bring justice to the world and honor to Dulcinea, the lady of his dreams.
The novel was first adapted into a ballet in 1740 by Austrian choreographer Franz Hilverding in Vienna. A second ballet adaptation was staged in 1768 by Jean-Georges Noverre in Vienna to music by the Austrian composer Josef Starzer.
There were a number of other adaptations, but all were supplanted by the one produced by Ludwig Minkus and Marius Petipa in 1869. Their adaptation premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 26, 1869.
Petipa had spent three years in Spain studying that country’s dance and culture, and he incorporated what he learned into “Don Quixote,” which was considered his first and most famous grand ballet.
Minkus’ score was also his first big success as a composer. A year after the ballet premiered, he was appointed the official composer of ballet music to the Imperial Theatres in St. Petersburg.
In 1871, Petipa and Minkus revised the ballet, adding a fifth act to the original four.
However, modern productions are actually derived the version staged by Petipa’s contemporary, Alexander Gorsky, for the Bolshoi Theatre in 1900, which streamlined the ballet to three acts and six scenes.
The ballet creates a world of Spanish passion and theatrical magic in an enchanting tale of love that radiates joy from every turn. “Don Quixote” transforms the stage into a canvas of dynamic movement, vivid imagery, and magnetic entertainment that celebrates the art form’s most spirited traditions.
In addition to the idealistic knight, Don Quixote, the principal characters in the ballet are Dulcinea/Kitri and Basilio. These roles are some of the most virtuosic and challenging in classical ballet.
Both Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali created their own illustrations of the starry-eyed knight.
More about Gulfshore Ballet
Two years ago, Gulfshore Ballet performed “Carmen” at Opera Naples’ Festival Under the Stars, followed last year by “The Sleeping Beauty.” Both were staged outdoors in Cambier Park, but the ballet is being moved indoors this year to create a better viewing experience for audience members.
Gulfshore Ballet combines a long-standing school for students with a professional company.
Gulfshore Ballet was founded by Melinda Roy, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. Roy operated the school for 10 years, setting the foundation for Gulfshore Ballet to provide classical dance training and education of the highest caliber. Roy retired in 2011, but Gulfshore Ballet was fortunate to have former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancers Franklin Gamero and Iliana Lopez take over as artistic directors.
Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero were born in Valencia, Venezuela. They began their careers at Ballet Nacional Teatro Teresa Carreño. Both went on to dance at San Francisco Ballet, Cleveland Ballet and as soloists with the Deutsche Opera Berlin and the Deutsche Opera am Rhein in Düsseldorf. In 1987, they became principal dancers with Miami City Ballet, where they remained for 18 successful years.
Lopez and Gamero launched Gulfshore Ballet’s professional company in 2023. It debuted with a performance of “Carmen” during the Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars in March 2024. Lopez's and Gamero's exemplary reputation worldwide, along with their exclusive access to the repertoire of famed choreographer Jimmy Gamonet de los Heros, gives Florida Gulfshore Ballet unique appeal to top dancers with international reputations who are looking to advance their careers.
More about Festival Under the Stars
Soon after joining Opera Naples as artistic and music director, Ramon Tebar proposed to the board that the opera perform outdoors.
“We are used in Europe to go outside as soon as the weather allows us to go outside and do symphony concerts and opera, fully staged, in historical places and squares,” said Tebar. “I could see that happening here.”
The board was reticent. Then the pandemic struck.
“When the pandemic came and we had to close all the theaters, we didn’t have many options because we were performing at the Wang Center, but also Artis—Naples,” Tebar recalled. “So at that point, I proposed it again.”
That led to Opera Naples’ first Festival Under the Stars in 2021. The venue then was Baker Park.
Last year, Festival Under the Stars celebrated its fifth anniversary, and the event was bigger and more prestigious than ever.
For more, visit “A major cultural event, Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars a boon to Naples economy.”
See also, “Opera Naples enjoying success despite lack of state arts and culture grants.”
Support for WGCU’s arts & culture reporting comes from the Estate of Myra Janco Daniels, the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, and Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.
