Valentine's Day delight: Ballet San Jose's premiere of 'Don Quixote' Feb. 15

If you're still looking for something to do Valentine's Day weekend, look no more folks as Ballet San Jose's company premiere of ‘Don Quixote’ begins February 15 through February 17, 2013, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts featuring internationally acclaimed guest artist, José Manuel Carreño. Carreño will dance the role of Basilio opposite BSJ principal dancer Alexsandra Meijer, who will debut as Kitri. This lavish premiere will also have debut performances by leading couples and principle dancers Maykel Solas & Soloist Junna Ige; as well as Jeremy Kovitch & Soloist Amy Marie Briones.

This incredible staging by BSJ Artistic Advisor Wes Chapman with exquisite costumes on loan by the American Ballet Theatre promises an amazing full-length ballet performance by the BSJ company, and with this special return of Carreño along with Symphony Silicon Valley under the baton of BSJ Music Director and Conductor George Daugherty playing an irresistible score by Ludwig Minkus. Also making their debut performances as the leading couple are principle dancers Maykel Solas & Soloist Junna Ige; and Jeremy Kovitch & Soloist Amy Marie Briones.

For those unfamiliar with “Don Quixote,” this classic love story is a tale of the tarnished, though still very inspired Don Quixote who embarks on an exciting adventure driven by the vision of his dream lover, Dulcinea; an electrifying adventure that leads Quixote to the meetings of dazzling characters in a dance-packed feast of comedy, drama, romance, intrigue, betrayal and fantasy. The perfect Valentine “ballet” treat for hearts of all ages.

“Having José perform with us in one of his signature roles like Basilio is thrilling for us,” said Chapman, “He will bring great energy and expertise to our company premiere of Don Quixote. With the many talented members of our company making their debut in these definitively classic, romantic roles, it’s going to be quite a Valentine’s Day weekend at Ballet San Jose.”

The extremely talented Carreño was born in Cuba to a family well-established in the tradition of classical dance; Carreño was just 10 years old when he began studying with Alicia Alonso, Lazaro Carreño and Loipa Araújo. From training at the National Ballet of Cuba to becoming an established favorite among Cuban dancers, Carreño earned his acclaim at the national level, winning prestigious awards at the New York International Ballet Competition and the Jackson Mississippi Ballet Competition before being asked by Sir Anthony Dowell to become a principal dancer for the Royal Ballet. Within just a few short years but not long after astonishing audiences, ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie asked Carreño to join American Ballet Theatre as principal dancer where his considerably repertoire included many works by Jerome Robbins, Roland Petit and George Balanchine. Carreño also worked with legendary choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Boris Eifman and Christopher Wheeldon – all regarding him an outstanding interpreter of their choreographer.

Since Carreño’s retirement from ABT in 2011, he haas performed all over the world, returning for this special Valentine’s Day weekend performance of Don Quixote – a stage day to remember.

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Additional information:

Ballet San Jose’s company premiere of the amazing production of “Don Quixote” begins February 15 and runs through February 17, 2013, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: $105 to $21.

With music by Ludwig Minkus and costumes by Santo Loquasto; this world premiere (original production) of “Don Quixote” was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow on December 14, 1869.

Notes: Carreño will dance Basilio opposite Alexsandra Meijer’s Kitri on Friday,
February 15th at 8pm and Sunday February 17th at 1:30 p.m.; Amy Marie Briones and Jeremy Kovitch perform Kitri and Basilio on Saturday, February 16 at 1:30 p.m. and Junna Ige and Maykel Solas dance the lead roles on Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m.

For additional information, including tickets, visit Ballet San Jose’s website
www.balletsj.org or call the San Jose Ballet Box Office at 408-288-2800.

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