NJ Ballet to perform Don Quixote

MORRISTOWN — New Jersey Ballet returns to the Morristown Performing Arts Center for two performances May 18 and 19 — Don Quixote and Beauty and the Beast/Peter and the Wolf.

Don Quixote is based on the 1900 version staged for the Bolshoi by Alexander Gorsky.

It involves Kitri, the headstrong daughter of an innkeeper, and Basilio, the village barber. The two young people are in love, but the innkeeper plans to marry his daughter off to Gamach, a foppish local nobleman. As Kitri is refusing to obey her father, along comes old Don Quixote who confuses the situation by mistaking Kitri for Dulcinea, the imaginary lady of his dreams. His attempts to rescue Dulcinea and right the wrongs he imagines in his world keep the story moving until the young lovers can be wed in a grand celebration in the village square.

New Jersey Ballet'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's roster includes 15 dancers from seven countries — Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Japan, Russia and most come from the United States.

On Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m., Don Quixote will be presented.

On Sunday, May 19 at 1:30 and 4 p.m., Beauty and the Beast/Peter and the Wolf will be presented. These ballets are specifically geared toward families with young children ages 4 and up.

Tickets for Don Quixote are $29 to $59. Tickets for Beauty and the Beast/Peter and the Wolf are $12 to $15.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St., Morristown. For tickets or more information call the box office at 973-539-8008 or visit mayoarts.org.