SF Ballet Principal Sasha De Sola Stars in Don Quixote Opening Night

At a San Francisco Ballet studio on March 13, Sasha De Sola launched into the famous Kitri jump, the airborne signature of a role she describes as "fiery" and "very assured of herself as a woman." Six days later, she took that energy to the War Memorial Opera House stage as San Francisco Ballet opened its new production of Don Quixote, running through March 29.

De Sola, a longtime principal with the company, last danced Kitri in 2022. Her return to the role has drawn notice from colleagues who speak to a methodical, research-driven approach to every performance. "She does a lot of homework, does her own research and is never a blank slate," said rehearsal director Joanna Berman, who has worked with De Sola since 2022. Principal dancer Harrison James, who has partnered with De Sola on multiple productions, was equally direct: "I like her process a lot." James added that De Sola will think and rethink every movement in rehearsals before committing to the stage.

The production itself carries considerable history. Building on the foundational works of Marius Petipa, whose original version premiered at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre on December 26, 1869, and Alexander Gorsky's 1900 revision, the staging was boldly reimagined for SF Ballet in 2003 by then-Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson and Choreographer-in-Residence Yuri Possokhov to mark the ballet's 150th anniversary. That Tomasson/Possokhov version had its world premiere on March 14, 2003, at the War Memorial Opera House, the same stage where the current run is playing.

Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote stands as a rare comedy in the classical repertory. The production weaves guitars and castañuelas into the orchestral music and draws the passion and precision of flamenco into the choreography, a quality carried into the lobby this season. All evening performances include a live flamenco activation in the Opera House lobby by Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, featuring artistic director and dancer Carola Zertuche, guitarist Jesse Torres, and singer Clara Rodriguez. On opening night, the activation began immediately following the performance; for all subsequent evening shows, it begins 30 minutes before curtain.

The creative team for the 2026 run includes additional principal coaching by Tamara Rojo and Loipa Araújo, with scenic and costume design by Martin Pakledinaz and lighting by James F. Ingalls. Principals Jim Sohm, Pascal Molat, and Wei Wang also appear in the production.

Don Quixote continues at the War Memorial Opera House through March 29. Tickets are available at sfballet.org or by calling Ticket Services at 415-865-2000, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.