2022 represents the 25th anniversary of the Virginia Arts Festival, the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia. Over two decades, the organization has brought thousands of performances and millions of attendees to the region. To celebrate this milestone, VAF is pulling out all the stops for the 2022 season with a lineup of performances studded with award-winning performers, artists, and shows. 

This weekend, the Virginia Arts Festival team brings a particularly fantastic show to Norfolk to kick off the season. They’ve lined up the American Ballet Theatre to perform Don Quixote at Chrysler Hall. For those unfamiliar with the American Ballet Theatre, rest assured you will not want to miss them. With recognition as one of the world’s leading classical ballet companies, ABT produces stage art in its most refined form. However, American Ballet Theatre isn’t just a phenomenal company; it’s also “America’s National Ballet Company” designated by the United States Congress. That makes ABT, in a sense, our national library or museum of ballet. Founded in 1939 with a mission to build a repertoire of the finest ballets, the company practices and performs the finest ballets that the world has seen. They’re keeping alive a cultural archive of ballet through their performances. Each show is equal parts world-class entertainment and a living, breathing look into the history and culture of ballet. 

The performance that American Ballet Theatre brings to Norfolk this weekend is Don Quixote. This three-act ballet stems from Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, often referenced as “the first modern novel,” “one of the greatest novels of all time,” and a canonical foundation of modern literature. The ballet rendition of this legendary work came to be in 1869 via Marius Petipa and has since seen many iterations. When this performance was first brought to life movies and television didn’t exist. Performances like this were the pinnacle of entertainment in the world. It was considered a masterwork and performed in venues of the utmost opulence. American Ballet Theatre has brought the immense talent of their company to bring this performance to life with the level of skill that the work deserves. 

Through 145 minutes, ABT whisks you through the misadventures of Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza, as they galavant through the Spanish countryside with heroic intent. The ballet’s contagious energy and fiery choreography will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the performance. The bravura and high kicks paired with the classic score performed by the full Virginia Symphony Orchestra will surely leave you dancing for days to come. Costumes, sets, and lighting by Tony Award-winning teams lend an explosion of color to the elite choreography of the ABT. 

Together the ballet, the story, the music, and the visuals converge for three genuinely exceptional performances, the likes of which the 757 rarely gets to experience. This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can step into Chrysler Hall and immerse yourself in the magnificence and mastery of American Ballet Theatre’s Don Quixote.  

Grab tickets here.

Paul Stetson Rice

Chelsea, NFK

Paul is the creator of NFKVA.com. He was born and raised in Norfolk, graduated from Virginia Tech, and narrowly avoided law school. Chat with him about economics, entrepreneurship, hip-hop, and hiking. When he's not working on five different projects, you'll catch him sharing a beer with friends at a local brewery.

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