Ballet Conservatory of Asheville: Paquita: The Gypsy Princess

Dance’s ability to convey stories of love and adventure is a wonder to behold. Ballet Conservatory of Asheville presents Paquita: The Gypsy Princess Friday and Saturday, June 3–4, at Diana Wortham Theatre. This production stars principal dancer Addul Manzano, of Charlotte Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. First performed in Paris in 1846, Paquita was originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier with music by Edouard Deldevez. Years later, Marius Petipa staged the ballet in Russia and added new pieces specially composed by Ludwig Minkus. Today, the ballet is primarily a mystery. “Most ballet companies just perform the Grand Pas, Pas de Trois, and the Children’s Mazurka, which have all been remembered and preserved over the years,” says Angie Lynn, the Conservatory’s artistic director. “The rest of the ballet has been lost, so some companies may reconstruct their version of the story.” Ballet Conservatory of Asheville adapts its full-length version from the 2003 production of the Paris Opera Ballet. In this version, baby Paquita is separated from her family and found by Gypsies who raise her to become the princess of their band. As a teenager, she befriends the prince of a royal family who is already engaged to be married. The Gypsy leader, who wants to marry Paquita, sees that Paquita and the prince are falling in love and becomes jealous. He plots with the fiancée’s brother against the royal prince. Paquita helps foil their plan. She discovers her noble birth and that the prince is actually her cousin. The couple can happily marry. (At the time this takes place, marriage between cousins isn’t out of the ordinary.) Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday at Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Tickets ($15–28) are available by calling the box office at 828.257.4530 or visiting dwtheatre.com. For more information, visit balletconservatoryofasheville.com.