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Rich blues, greens and yellows, and layers adorn some of the intricate costumes designed for a production of “Don Quixote,” a performance that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Western Ballet at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Founded in Palo Alto in 1976 and now based in Mountain View, the ballet company and school will stage a three-act, 2-hour-long show on May 22 and 23. The ballet, an adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel about a man who reads so many chivalric romances that he decides to become a knight, is known to be technically demanding and logistically complex.
Western Ballet’s production is based on a 19th-century ballet by classical dance master Marius Petipa, which was streamlined by another choreographer, Alexander Gorsky, in the early 20th century.
Alexi Zubiria, who has been artistic director at Western Ballet since 2007, said the production, which features 30 dancers, has been planned for many years. Zubiria previously danced “Don Quixote,” which he describes as “vibrant” and “very funny.”
“We like the comedic ballets a lot,” he said. “There are some ballets we try to avoid that are a little bit more for an adult audience, like ‘Romeo and Juliet.’”
Zubiria aims for shows that are audience-friendly so children can attend.
Eileen Zubiria, an instructor at Western Ballet and president of the school’s board of directors, said this particular ballet brings out the best in their dancers.
The production also features guest dancers in the lead roles. Nikisha Fogo, a principal dancer for the San Francisco Ballet, will play the heroine Kitri. Alejandro Olivera, a Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer, will play Basilio, Kitri’s love interest.
Alexi said the school, located at 914 N. Rengstorff Ave., has grown over the last half century. About 600 students would attend drop-in classes annually when he joined, but now it’s about 4,000.
“It’s a big community; that is the reason why we will not even think about moving away from this area,” he said. “Our reputation is based on the community that follows us, and attends our classes and shows.”
Alexi said that interestingly, the tech industry has become a good source for male dancers in his productions. He recruits them when they drop into the school’s classes.
“Guys are not afraid to come anymore when they become an adult, whereas when they’re a teenager or tween, they don’t want to be around the girls,” he said.
Alexi said that to train adults to dance ballet for the first time, he has them face the bar holding both hands. Instructors provide technical input and teach proper ballet alignment, broken down into six body parts: the head, shoulders, arms, hands, torso, and legs/feet.
Maggie Zhang, a graduating high school senior, has been attending Western Ballet since she was about 3 or 4 years old and is one of the 30 dancers in “Don Quixote.” She said this ballet showcases so many styles, from Act I’s Spanish flair to Act II’s more classical, dreamy atmosphere, along with pantomime scenes (stories told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers) woven throughout.
“I’ve learned so much dancing (in) various parts, and it’s been wonderful to see everything come together after months of effort,” she said in an email. “Come to see each magical character brought to life and be immersed in an amazing experience!”
Aside from the dance training, costumes, sets and backdrops also came together. Choreographer and designer Yanis E. Pikieris created costumes for the production.
Peter Crompton created new sets and backdrops for the ballet. Alexi met with Crompton in September to draw the designs for the sets. Construction began in January and each backdrop took about a month to paint.
History of the school and dance company
Dancer, choreographer and instructor Richard Gibson started Western Ballet to make the art of classical ballet performances and education accessible to more people, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Following Gibson, Alessandra Di Pierro directed the school for the next 20 years. Mark Foehringer then served as artistic director from 1999 to 2006.
When Alexi Zubiria took over, he introduced the Nina Novak Ballet Scholarships and financial aid programs. He and Eileen noted that they don’t turn away students who can’t afford classes.
Alexi began his ballet career in 1977 with the International Ballet of Caracas and became the group’s principal dancer in 1980. Under Alexi, Western Ballet has produced “Snow White,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Puss in Boots” and “Beauty and the Beast.” He aims to marry the classical repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries with contemporary choreography.
Eileen said that the school is helping create an appreciation of the arts.
Alexi noted that when students begin classes at Western Ballet, they immediately want to go see a professional ballet performance and will go to the San Francisco Ballet.
“We’re helping the arts,” Alexi said. “We’re preserving classical ballet, which some people think is going away. We’re doing our part here to preserve (it).”
Of the school’s latest production, which has a strong comic undercurrent, Alexi said that attendees can expect to “be laughing from beginning to end.”
Western Ballet stages “Don Quixote,” Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. $63.50 for adults, $52 for seniors (62 and over), students (21 and under) and children (12 and under). westernballet.org.
