International Ballet brings Spain to the stage with full length Don Quixote

International Ballet and Artistic Director Vlada Kysselova are bringing Spain to the stage with ballet’s original romantic comedy – Don Quixote! Performances will be May 31-June 1, 2025 at Peace Concert Hall. Ludwig Munkis’ lively score will be performed by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel. This is the first time the ballet in its entirety has been performed in Greenville. Audiences will be immersed in an adventure that includes toreadors, castanets, fiery flamenco and a sword battle with a windmill.

Professional guest artists from Cincinnati Ballet lead the cast with Melissa Gelfin in the role of Kitri, and Rafael Quenedit in the role of Basilio, and from Ukraine, Viacheslav Kravchenko as the title Character, Don Quixote. Seventeen additional professional guest artists from Ballet San Antonio, Ballet Idaho, Chattanooga Ballet, Georgia Ballet and Madison Ballet join sixteen local pre-professional company dancers from International Ballet Academy in the production.

IB President Sarah Shoemaker states “Producing a full length classical ballet is a major artistic undertaking, but we succeeded with Swan Lake last season and thought we would do it again! Greenvillians truly do support the arts and the city is growing. The fact that our Nutcracker and Swan Lake did so well over the past year makes us optimistic that there is an audience for Don Quixote. Melissa Gelfin and Rafael Quenedit are world-class performers so it’s exciting to see talent of this caliber share the stage with our local talent. It’s also a thrill for IB to bring IB alumni and SCGSAH alumni back to Greenville to perform with us as well.”

Don Quixote is a high-energy, three-act ballet that has it all – comedy, romance and adventure, not to mention stunning costumes and dramatic sets. Whether you are new to ballet or you’ve loved it all your life, Don Quixote is sure to entertain. IB is honored to bring this production, typically found only on the largest of stages, to the Upstate. Don Quixote is sponsored in part by Charles Wofford & Nancy Thomas.

Don Quixote tickets start at $25 and may be purchased online at peacecenter.org or by visiting or calling the Peace Center Box Office at 864.467.3000, Monday – Friday 9:30am – 5:30pm.