The performance of Don Quixote Photo: Courtesy of Wang Chang

Winning a round of "bravos" from the audiences at the Beijing Tianqiao Theater on Sunday, the National Ballet of China's (NBC) performance of Don Quixote came to an end after a three-day run. 

The performance starred NBC dancers including Qiu Yunting, Ma Xiaodong and Zhan Luxin with classical music performed by the NBC orchestra under the baton of renowned Chinese conductor Liu Ju.

Adapted from the well-known Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes, the ballet departs from the book's contradictory core and tells a rather simple and romantic story between a young man, the barber Basilio, and a woman, the innkeeper's daughter Kitri, who fall in love with each other and finally become a couple with the help of the famous Don Quixote.

The NBC presented the version of the ballet adapted by Russia-born dancer Rudolf Nureyev. This version is commonly seen as the best ballet interpretation of Don Quixote of the 20th century.

Feng Ying, current head of NBC and a former lead dancer in Don Quixote, once studied under Nureyev himself in 1985. The ballet master once referred to Feng as a dancer with"strong characteristics and unique charm."

"We were and are still deeply influenced by Nureyev's sincere attitude toward art from the days he came to Beijing and conducted rehearsals [decades ago]," Feng told the press.