Kitri Act III tutu from Don Quixote (1985) designed by Desmond Heeley

The role of the spirited Kitri has been performed by some of the National Ballet’s most illustrious ballerinas, including Karen Kain, Gizella Witkowsky and Sonia Rodriguez. A stylized adaptation of historical Spanish dress, this tutu has been interpreted to better reveal the dancer’s footwork, as with all classical tutus. Nicholas Beriozoff’s Don Quixote has become a favourite production for many in the company thanks to Former Artistic Director Erik Bruhn, who is credited with successfully procuring Beriozoff’s choreography for the company in 1985.
The designs for Don Quixote are by celebrated international stage designer Desmond Heeley, most famous for his talent for creating wondrous, vibrant environments with the absence of obvious colour. Don Quixote’s sets and costumes are steeped in an Iberian ambiance which exudes fantasy and accentuates the storybook nature of the ballet. The bold red of this tutu puts Kitri clearly in the forefront of the dance drama of her wedding depicted in the final Act.