Don Quixote - The Osipova and Vasiliev Show
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpy-mOJdpzme85EcVOsOhy4xVxCO3lh5wMTSkEGxDpISUht3DmjfgX7llbgGX0sJESn9dvvTOcghje13EjHKYz56JgCRzcTnYyuTrqZbQWKkxqG86IOaN4-vNTfAwnt6Wm691SdqIG_zj/s1600/osipova+vasilev+don+q.jpg)
The signature move of the Natalia Osipova/Ivan Vasiliev super-duper Don Quixote occurs late in the first act -- the move is a one-handed lift, with a ballerina holding a striking pose in the air for effect. But Vasiliev takes it a step further -- in the middle of holding his left, he raises a free leg in arabesque and even raises his foot to demi-pointe. It's a trick that I first saw when I saw their HD cinemacast with the Bolshoi more than two years ago. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this kind of showboating in a ballet like Don Quixote . The choreography (a mix of Petipa and Alexander Gorsky) has long been a staple of ballet galas for its bravura requirements. Gorsky's choreography was designed to be a mix of folk dance and classical ballet at its most flamboyant. But (and here's the key): the performers have to look like they are having fun when doing these tricks and playing to the crowd. Last night's performance had this weird mix of every gala tr