One night only · First time in Cyprus

Celebrity Gala presents

Slovene National Theatre Maribor

Kristina Kretova and Igor Tsvirko dancing Don Quixote

DONQUIXOTE

Grand open-air ballet

With Bolshoi Theatre principals

Kristina Kretova & Igor Tsvirko

Kitri and Basilio

26 September 2026 · 20:00

Paphos Medieval Castle

Tickets from€50
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Why this event

The world's most performed ballet

Don Quixote is ballet everyone knows. Minkus's music, Spanish fire, the legendary pas de deux — live, under the Paphos sky.

Bolshoi stars in the leading roles

Kristina Kretova, Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre, and Igor Tsvirko, Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi Theatre, come together as Kitri and Basilio for this one-night performance in Paphos.

A premier European company

SNG Maribor — one of Europe's leading ballet companies, already loved in Cyprus through Zorba and Romeo & Juliet.

The crown of classical ballet

One of the most technically demanding showpieces in ballet history. Thirty-two fouettés. Double tours. A hall holding its breath.

A medieval castle as your stage

The Mediterranean, a sky full of stars, and ancient stone walls — a setting no theatre in the world can replicate.

A VIP evening like no other

Exclusive lounge, premium drinks buffet, professional photographer, and networking with an audience that appreciates the finer things.

About the ballet

The world's most performed ballet — now under the Paphos sky.

“TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, THAT IS MY QUEST.”

The National Ballet of Slovenia (SNG Maribor) brings Cervantes' great romance to life in three acts. Dynamic choreography, Spanish fire, the legendary Kitri & Basilio pas de deux — and that Minkus score everyone recognises from the very first bars. For the first time on Cyprus: a full-scale Don Quixote inside the walls of a 14th-century castle, under the open Mediterranean sky.

Choreography
Krzysztof Nowogrodzki after Marius Petipa
Music
Ludwig Minkus
Kristina Kretova and Igor Tsvirko as Kitri and Basilio in Don Quixote

Starring

KRISTINA KRETOVA&IGOR TSVIRKO

as Kitri & Basilio

Prima Ballerina and Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi Theatre

For one night only in Cyprus, two of the Bolshoi Theatre's leading dancers take the stage together in the iconic roles of Kitri and Basilio.

One performance. One night.

Feel the magic before the night

SNG Maribor · Don Quixote

don-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deuxdon-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deuxdon-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deuxdon-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deuxdon-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deuxdon-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-pas-de-deux

Pas de deux

The crown of classical ballet

Among everything ballet has created in three hundred years, the Act III pas de deux from Don Quixote holds a singular place. It is one of the most technically demanding, physically gruelling and visually stunning showpieces in the entire classical repertoire.

Thirty-two fouettés. Double tours in the air. Breathtaking supported lifts. Speed, precision and pure fire — all at once.

On 26 September, the legendary pas de deux will be performed by Bolshoi Theatre stars Kristina Kretova and Igor Tsvirko — together on the open-air stage at Paphos Castle.

One night. One performance.

32
fouettés
III
act
1869
premiered

Artists & creative team

Starring

Kitri
Kristina Kretova
Prima Ballerina, Bolshoi Theatre
Basilio
Igor Tsvirko
Principal Dancer, Bolshoi Theatre
Ballet Company
SNG Maribor
Choreography
Krzysztof Nowogrodzki
Set Design
Juan Guillermo Nova
Costumes
Luca Dall'Alpi
Lighting
Pascal Mérat
don-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-ensemble

Fire, speed, precision — all at once.

Tickets

One night only · 26 September 2026 · Medieval Castle of Paphos

A single open-air performance at one of Cyprus's most extraordinary historic venues.

Standard
from €50

Experience Don Quixote from amphitheatre seating with views of the stage and the Mediterranean. An unforgettable open-air evening within historic castle walls.

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VIP
VIP package
€80 / person

purchased in addition to a ticket of any price category

  • Exclusive lounge
  • Premium drinks buffet
  • Priority parking
  • Ballet programme booklet
  • Professional photographer
  • Networking

An evening at a different level — for those who appreciate not just the art, but everything around it.

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Venue

The Medieval Castle of Paphos

A setting you can't build — only find

A 14th-century fortress on the shores of the Mediterranean. Ancient stones, the scent of the sea, a star-filled sky and the score of Minkus. All of it real. Here, every performance becomes something more than a performance.

don-quixote-ballet-paphos-castle-2026-knight-solo

One night under the Paphos sky.

Join us on 26 September at the Medieval Castle of Paphos.

DON QUIXOTE · One night only

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Mega Sponsor

Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort

Cap St. Georges is more than a hotel. It is a five-star resort where the Mediterranean meets the wild beauty of Akamas, and world-class luxury meets the true soul of Cyprus. A flagship of the island's hospitality industry, Cap St. Georges invests actively in the cultural life of Paphos — which is why grand ballet finds a natural home here.

Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort lobby overlooking the Mediterranean
Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort pool
Mediterranean coast near Cap St. Georges and Akamas

Partners & sponsors

Municipality of Paphos

Under the auspices of

The event is held with the support of the Municipality of Paphos — a city where ancient stones keep the living culture of the Mediterranean alive.

Organisers

Celebrity Gala
Papadopoulos & Schinis Productions

Celebrity Gala and Papadopoulos & Schinis Productions — Cyprus's leading forces in cultural production — unite to bring a world-class ballet to Cypriot audiences.

Sponsors

Space 307

Space 307 is an international full-service FinTech company. A team of 280+ software development and marketing experts. Outstanding performance and reasonable decisions are core principles — eliminating red tape in business, and loving the time spent together after hours.

Creative Universe

Creative Universe is an international socio-cultural project founded in 2012 and dedicated to supporting artists and creators. It works at the intersection of culture, art, science and philanthropy, and already stands behind a number of cultural initiatives in Cyprus. Supporting grand ballet in Paphos continues that line.

Media partner

Phileleftheros

Phileleftheros — one of the largest media outlets in Cyprus, covering cultural life across the island.

Good to know

Age requirement

Suitable for guests aged 6 and above. All guests, including children, require a valid ticket.

Arrive early

We recommend arriving at least 1 hour before the performance. Entry is not permitted after the show begins.

Bars are open

Bars operate within the castle grounds. Food and drinks are not permitted in the viewing area.

No flash photography

Personal photos and videos are permitted. Flash photography is strictly prohibited.

No late entry

Latecomers will not be admitted after the performance begins. Please plan your journey in advance.

Tickets required

Entry is by ticket only. Electronic tickets on your phone are accepted.

Media Cooperation

We are open to cooperation with media, bloggers, and press partners across Cyprus.

If you would like to cover the Don Quixote ballet performance by the National Ballet of Slovenia, please fill out the accreditation request form.

We look forward to seeing you on 26 September at the Medieval Castle of Paphos!

Buy Tickets · Tickets from €50