20-24 Sept 2006. In Don Quixote, choreography by Marius Petipa, music by Minkus. Although Petipas creation was not the first ballet to be made from the Don Quixote story, it is by far the most successful and well remembered thanks to several revivals. This is possibly because it was created at the height of Petipas choreographic career. The grand pas de deux is often performed as a separate piece. The Spanish flair and fire is no doubt what attracted Petipa to the story in the first place. And it has attracted just about every dancer since. Normally this type of dancing isnt that much of a challenge for a dancer but in Don Q, theres an added twist. Petipas choreography isnt entirely faithful to the idiom. Its more like broken Spanish. Petipas ability to import a Spanish style over the classical form is the ballets main strength. Dancers love its playful sexuality.The ballet version of Don Quixote is a testament not to the genius of Cervantes, but to that of Marius Petipa - who proved that he could create great dance out of the most unlikely of subjects.