Gender-skewering comic ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will bring its unique blend of low comedy and high art to Milton Keynes Theatre on 2 and 3 June, writes Georgina Butler.
The troupe of professional male dancers, affectionately known as “the Trocks”, is celebrating fifty years of delighting audiences of all ages with sassy spoofs of, and hysterical homages to, romantic and classical ballet.
This season’s special anniversary production promises to showcase the Trocks’ fabulous sense of fun and flawless dancing through a sensational repertoire of hilarious and breathtaking pieces.
Every dance norm will be challenged with technical panache as each talented dancer transforms into two personas – a female ballerina and a male danseur. Tutus, testosterone and tongue-in-cheek playfulness? Theatregoers should expect to be enthralled and entertained.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded by a group of ballet enthusiasts in 1974, in the wake of the Stonewall Riots. The company started life as a late-night act on the makeshift New York stage of an early LGBTQ+ organisation.
This means that the Trocks do not come from Monte Carlo (shock!); they chose the name to evoke the glamour of classical ballet's heyday and pay satirical tribute to the Russian ballet émigrés who settled in Monte Carlo. It also means that the Trocks have always been trailblazers – inclusivity, gender fluidity and body positivity are a given for them. What's more, their powerful parodies come from a place of deep knowledge and respect for the art form they love.
Nowadays, the Trocks recruit their dedicated-but-also-daft divas from all over the globe and their enduring passion for ballet remains at the heart of everything they do. Renowned for their immaculate technique, daring physicality and en-pointe comic timing, they present sell-out performances wherever they tour.
The Trocks’ appeal is widespread, with die-hard ballet fans and newcomers alike appreciating the artistry, athleticism and amusement in their performances.
In Milton Keynes, the company will present a mixed bill comprising: Swan Lake, Go For Barocco, The Dying Swan, Walpurgisnacht and a surprise Pas de Deux.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is touring nationwide thanks to support from Dance Consortium, which invites must-see international contemporary dance companies to visit venues across the UK.
Opening night includes a post-show Q&A (free for ticket holders).
Running time: Approximately 2 hours, including two intervals.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 June.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
Image: Zoran Jelenic
