That’s right, those dancing divas in drag are back for another run at The Joyce Theater during the holidays. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will be performing two different programs from Dec. 14- Jan 2, which will include old favorites like Swan Lake and two Joyce premieres, including Petipa’s last masterpiece, Pas d’Action from Harlequinade.
Since 1974 the all-male “Trocks” have been entertaining audiences around the globe with their hilarious parodies of classical ballet. They have become a wildly-popular dance phenomenon, and they have toured everywhere from New Zealand to London to Buenos Aires to Beijing.
While certainly unique, the Trocks’ tradition of dancing en travestie is really nothing new to the performing world. The roots of males performing female roles harken back to Ancient Greek tragedies, and in the court of Louis XIV, men often dressed up as women and performed in female roles for comedic effect . The Trocks continue that comic tradition by acting the parts of ballerina divas and amusingly poking fun at the often absurd realities of the serious, classical dance world.
Photo by Sascha Vaughn
But what’s better than appreciating the side-splitting renditions of classical ballet by men in tights, tutus, and, don’t forget … POINTE SHOES ? That would be acknowledging the earnest seriousness in which these men perform and honor the classical traditions of ballet.
Not only do the Trocks perform in pointe shoes, but they execute the pointe work with virtuosity worthy of the original ballerinas themselves. Despite the large frames of some of the men and the fact that their bodies are shoved into costumes originally designed for the female body, they move with the agility and power of the best, which is evidence of their rigorous dance training. They faithfully and authentically reproduce classical ballet works to contemporary audiences that have, perhaps, grown tired and bored of seeing a “typical” ballet performance. In doing so, they pay homage to the ballet tradition with flair and wit.
To purchase tickets to see the company that has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years, click here.
To learn more about Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, visit their website: www.trockadero.org
