By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Oct 31, 2014 at 11:47 AM

One of the major commitments Michael Pink has as the artistic director for the Milwaukee Ballet is to provide opportunities for dancers to stretch and move into roles where they are challenged to progress in their careers.

As a result of that commitment, it is possible to sometimes see a star being born. That was the case Thursday night when the ballet opened Pink’s "Don Quixote" at the Marcus Center. Incredibly, two ballerinas stepped up and grabbed the audience's imagination.

The first two acts of the ballet – the story of the wandering knight in search of his Dulcinea – featured the kind of outstanding performances we in Milwaukee have come to expect from leading artists like Davit Hovhannisyan, Alexandre Ferreira, Patrick Howell and the two mesmerizing leading women in the company: Luz San Miguel and Nicole Teague.

When any of those five are on the floor, either alone or in combinations, you know that something special is happening. San Miguel grabbed the role of Kitri by the throat and carried it to amazing heights as her affections were battled over by Ferreira and Hovhannisyan.

The second act of the ballet sees our hero joust with a windmill he thought was a demon and is knocked unconscious.

We then see Pink at his very best both creatively and with his devotion to telling a story.

While Don Q lays in the middle of the stage, 12 dancers, six from each side, pitter patter in with little steps, decked out in costumes identical to the one worn by Dulcinea. Don Q has never had a dream like this. The 12 are soon joined by the ravishing Valerie Harmon, the real Dulcinea, who in turn is joined by both Susan Gartell and Jennifer Ferrigno. All are dressed identically, and Harmon takes an extended turn "en pointe" as the shining love of Don Q’s life with a verve and grace that makes  you understand just why this old guy is crazy about her.

In the third act, Ferreira and Annia Hidalgo, in her fourth year with the company, brought down the house with their fiery dancing as the Lead Toreador and His Lady.

Hidalgo, perhaps not as familiar as the other dancers to the Milwaukee audience, was a gasp-inducing sylph on the stage in a gorgeous costume of black and red. Her dancing was assured and free wheeling, the kind of thing that makes it clear why ballet is such a wonderful thing to watch. Her every move had meaning, and the audience couldn’t get to its feet quick enough for her performance.

Both Hidalgo and Ferreira were dazzling in separate "fouette en tournant" that made you hold your breath as each continued well beyond the time that you’d normally expect. They were both vital and vibrant moments, capturing the spirit of the ballet and the tantalizing and uncompromising stuff of playful exuberance.

Hidalgo and San Miguel will switch roles Friday and Sunday. Either way, it’s a treat to see this ballet.

Pink is, above all else, a teller of tales. The tale of this slightly off-kilter knight and his faithful servant is one of the greatest books ever written. There is no ballet that could capture all of it.

But Pink understands that you don’t have to spell out every single fact in order to get a story told. His Don Quixote is in masterful hands with ballet master Dennis Malinkine delivering just the right mix of crazed warrior with worn out soldier, unsure of which end is up.

You get just enough of him to get the flavor that this tale is really the story of the eternal search by man for the whimsical fate to which we all aspire. Along the way, we all meet a variety of people and a variety of situations, but it is chasing that "Impossible Dream" that keeps all of us alive and keeps this ballet on a strong and even keel.

"Don Quixote" runs through Sunday at the Marcus Center and information about showtimes and tickets is available here.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.