The Ballet of the National Opera opens the 2024/25 season with the revival of the classic “Don Quixote” by Ludwig Minkus, in a magnificent production with choreography by Tiago Bordin -based on the original version by Marius Petipas-, sets by Giorgos Souglides and costumes by Mairis Katrantzou .

From December 5, 2024 and for nine performances in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the ELLS at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, under the musical direction of Stathis Soulis and with the participation of international ballet stars in the central roles.

Don Quixote, one of the most important and popular works in the classical ballet repertoire, is based on episodes from the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It is one of the most demanding ballets in the repertoire and is considered to be a great challenge for classical dancers due to its high degree of technical difficulty, as the way it is performed determines the quality of a ballet as a whole.

Through the unique music of Minkus, the choreography describes a story about the high ideals of chivalry that moves timelessly by combining comic and romantic elements. The Austrian composer composed music for several ballets, some of which were choreographed by Petipa. The latter traveled at an early age to Spain, where he was particularly fascinated by its traditional dances. In his “Don Quixote”, Petipa attempts to convey the images and colors of Spain, rendering its dance tradition exceptionally well through his choreography. The fruit of the collaboration between Minkus and Petipa was a huge success from the first moment, resulting in the establishment of “Don Quixote” as a timeless masterpiece of the world ballet repertoire.

The dancer and choreographer Thiago Bordin, after his successful career as Principal Dancer at the Hamburg Ballet -where the great John Neumeier even created roles especially for him-, but also at the Nederlands Dans Theater, has established himself as an important choreographer of the new generation, with a great love for classical ballet.

Giorgos Souglidis, in parallel with his collaborations with ELLS, has signed sets for productions at major festivals such as Salzburg, Bregenz, Epidaurus, important opera theaters such as Chicago, Rome, Lisbon, Valencia, etc. ., but also at the Royal Ballet of England and the Scottish Ballet. Internationally acclaimed Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou has designed costumes for the New York City Ballet and the Paris National Opera, while her works have been exhibited in major museums such as, among others, the Metropolitan Museum of New York and the Dallas Museum of Contemporary Art .

Along with the excellent A’ Dancers, Soloists, Principals and Corps de ballet of ELLS, the production also includes star dancers of the international ballet firm from top groups such as the Bavarian Ballet of Munich, the National Ballet of the Netherlands, the State Berlin Ballet and the Grands Ballets of Canada.

In the first three performances (5, 7, 8/12) the roles of Kitri and Basilio will be performed by two exceptional dancers, Madison Jung and Victor Caissetta. For the next three performances (15, 20, 22/12) in the same roles we meet two more sought-after ballet dancers, Xenia Ovsianik and Osiel Guneo. The leading couple in the last three performances (24, 26, 28/12) will be performed by two more guest dancers, Rachele Bouriassi and Esnel Ramos. The role of Mercedes is performed by ELS First Dancer Eleana Andreoudis, ELS Soloist Christina Makridou and dancer Marta Rivero de Miranda from the Corps de ballet. In the role of Espada, ELS First Dancers Danilo Zeka and Vangelis Bikos, as well as Yiannis Mitrakis from the Corps de ballet.