bergenPAC Presents a Weekend of New Jersey Ballet, 4/27 & 28

NJ Ballet's bergenPAC weekend to feature Don Quixote April 27th and double feature family matinee of Pinocchio on April 28th.

New Jersey Ballet's full length classical Don Quixote will be performed at bergenPAC in Englewood on Saturday, April 27 at 8:00PM. The production is rich in Spanish flavor and the gentle humor of Cervantes' masterpiece about an old knight, his squire, and their fanciful foray into the age of chivalry.

When the company premiered Don Quixote (often called Don Q) last season, the production immediately jumped to The Star-Ledger's prestigious Top Ten list of the year.

"It is a joyous ballet with outstanding choreography by Gorsky; a delightful spectacle popular with audiences," said New Jersey Ballet Director Carolyn Clark.

New Jersey Ballet is the only company in the state to perform full length classical ballets. The repertory currently includes Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Esmeralda. Its Nutcracker is the longest running original professional production in the state, and since 1971 it has been performed over 800 times and seen by more than a million people.

The ballet company's active repertory includes classical, contemporary and jazz works by the greatest choreographers in the world of dance; from Coralli, Perrot and Marius Petipa, to Balanchine, Robbins, Robert North and exciting newcomers such as Pedro Ruiz and David Fernandez. New Jersey Ballet is unique in the state for another reason: its roster includes 20 dancers from nine countries - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uruguay and most come from the United States. These artists, with their varied backgrounds and training, create a uniquely exciting magic together.

Don Quixote was staged by New Jersey Ballet principal dancer Albert Davydov. Don Q is his first project of this size and scope. Asked why, Albert states simply, "It is my favorite ballet." The 33 year-old dancer has performed it numerous times both in Russia and in the U.S., dancing in that time nearly all the male parts. "It has a lot of action and it's fun. Also, it is classical, which is a style our dancers like and do well." Mr. Davydov and NJB principal dancer Mari Sugawa will dance the lead roles in this production.

Don Quixote is staged by Albert Davydov after the Russian production by Alexander Gorsky, based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, and music by Ludwig Minkus.

This full length classical ballet is based on the 1900 version staged for the Bolshoi by Alexander Gorsky. Don Quixote is rich in Spanish color, flavor, and the laugh-out-loud humor of Cervantes' masterpiece about an old knight, his squire, and their foray into the age of chivalry. The production was named to The Star Ledger's 10 Best List when it premiered in 2011.

New Jersey Ballet's full length classical Pinnocchio will be performed at bergenPAC in Englewood on Sunday, April 28th at 1:00PM & 4:00PM.

Pinocchio is a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy, but first he must learn about courage, loyalty and to always tell the truth. The ballet follows his adventures with an evil Ringmaster, a gang of Ruffians, a huge storm and a Giant Whale. Thanks to the Blue Fairy, everything works out in the end and Pinocchio becomes a real boy at last. This production is performed with NJ Ballet's original "storyteller" narration so even the littlest theater-goers can keep up with ease.

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