The Royal Ballet has wowed audiences in Washington with seven performances of Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote at the Kennedy Center. The production had its US premiere to great acclaim on 9 June, awarded five stars and described as a delight for both young and old.
The Royal Ballet's Don Quixote was one of the best i've ever seen #RoyalBalletUSA
— Rachel Shim (@rachel_shim) June 13, 2015
@TheRoyalBallet Thank you for an outstanding #DonQ show this afternoon at the @kencen! Truly amazing experience. Please come back soon. — Scott Garrod (@Scott_Garrod) June 14, 2015
Great performance from @TheRoyalBallet in Don Q tonight.@MNunezOfficial amazing, especially in the PDD. Each balance longer than the last...
— Matthew Rusk (@mrrusk007) June 13, 2015
Saw my first Don Q @kencen with @MNunezOfficial giving a stunning performance for @TheRoyalBallet. Lovely characterization + technique.
— Heather Benjamin (@Heather_Benj) June 13, 2015
Steven. STEVEN. I thought you were never actually going to put that girl DOWN. @_stevenmcrae @ianasalenko #RoyalBalletUSA #actonefinale
— Anna Dalassené (@dalassene) June 13, 2015
Lucky to see 2 absolutely exhilarating, wonderful performances of #DonQ in the past 2 days. Thank you @TheRoyalBallet @kencen — ingalena (@ingalenam) June 14, 2015
Fab performance of #DonQ by Iana Salenko and Steven McRae!!! ![😻]()
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Loved it!!
— Katrina Huckerby (@Katrina_Huck) June 13, 2015
While in Washington, Soloist Eric Underwood took the opportunity to visit his old dance school, Suitland High School Center for Visual and Performing Arts, and was profiled on Fox 5 news. Watch the excerpt here.
Artist Annette Buvoli also trained in Washington and enjoyed revisiting old haunts. Read Annette's blog about performing to American audiences.
Amazing show on the last day in Washington with these two lovelies!! Bas & Kit! #RoyalBalletUSA pic.twitter.com/fZ2krVGVJL
— Gary Avis (@balletboy09) June 15, 2015
My big fat gypsy debut!!! Had great fun out there #RoyalBalletUSA #tour #gypsy #ikissedagirl !! pic.twitter.com/6POCbRTiSQ — Olivia Grace Cowley (@damegrace) June 14, 2015
Last day performing Don Q @ Kennedy Center. It's been a pleasure DC, next stop on #RoyalBalletUSA tour is Chicago!! pic.twitter.com/glKDuGVH9Y
— David Donnelly (@dav_donnelly) June 14, 2015
Thanks @TheRoyalBallet for making the Opera House your home this week. Merde to the rest of the #RoyalBalletUSA tour https://t.co/pBfzJzWvNz — The Kennedy Center (@kencen) June 14, 2015
The Royal Ballet (then Sadler’s Wells Ballet) made its first visit to the USA and Canada in 1949, a tour that caused a sensation among American audiences. ‘America is a really important place for us’, says Royal Ballet Director Kevin O’Hare. ‘Historically, it was really where we made our name’. View a selection of archive images from the 1949 and 1953 tour.
The Company last performed in Chicago 37 years ago. They will next perform Don Quixote at the Auditorium Theatre from 18–21 June, the same theatre where Kevin made his final appearance as a dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2000.
The tour will end in New York, with performances at the David H. Koch Theater (23 June–8 July).
The Royal Opera House would like to thank all tour supporters and Aud Jebsen for her support of the Royal Ballet touring programme.