Graceful, glamorous, hilarious: The Trockaderos are a must-see

Susan Bland

27 Mar 2024

A male ballerina dressed in a white leotard and a feathered tutu poses en pointe on a black stage with a black background. Feathers are falling from the tutu and a pile of feathers surround the dancer on the floor. — With feathers falling, a dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performs in "Dying Swan." Photo courtesy of Roberto Ricci.

With an inspired blend of dance and impeccable humor, the world-class, all-male comic dance troupe Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo makes its Southwest Virginia debut at the Moss Arts Center on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. The evening includes the company’s signature performance from the world’s best-known ballet, “Swan Lake.”

The Trocks, as the performers are affectionately known, have established themselves as a major dance phenomenon. They present a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and with men performing all of the roles — including those usually danced by women. Men dancing en pointe — heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, and romantic princesses — celebrate the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing audiences regardless of dance knowledge.

Founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo first performed in late-late shows in off-off Broadway lofts. The ensemble quickly garnered a major critical essay by Arlene Croce in the New Yorker, which, combined with reviews in the New York Times and the Village Voice, established the company as an artistic and popular success.

By mid-1975, the Trocks’ inspired and loving knowledge of dance, impeccable comic approach, and the astounding fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces, was being noted beyond New York. Articles in popular publications, including a photo essay in Vogue magazine, made the Trocks nationally and internationally known. Since its beginnings, the company has appeared in over 30 countries and over 500 cities worldwide.

The original concept of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has not changed. It is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works in faithful renditions of the manners and conceits of those dance styles. The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The dancers have both a male and female persona with their own stage names — Holly Dey-Abroad, Tatiana Youbetyabootskaya, Mikhail Mudkin — spoofing the egos and oddities of international ballet divas.

This performance is supported in part by gifts from Dr. Mark and Connie Froggatt, Dr. Rosemary Blieszner and Dr. Stephen P. Gerus, and Ms. Mary Ann Walker and Dr. Kenneth J. Walker.

Related events

Enjoy a free screening of the 2021 film “Ballerina Boys,” co-presented by the School of Performing Arts and Pride Center at Virginia Tech for Pride Week 2024, on Wednesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Creativity and Innovation District living-learning community, Performance Room 150. From PBS’ “American Masters” documentary series, “Ballerina Boys” tells the story of the remarkable history of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in the broader struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.

Radford University’s Department of Dance will host a repertory class for Radford and Virginia Tech students to learn excerpts of classical repertoire from a member of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo — first as performed by the world’s great ballet companies and then as the Trocks’ satirical versions.

Prior to the performance on April 13, a group of Virginia Tech students will observe how the Trocks transform from street looks to ballerinas in a backstage makeup demonstration.

Tickets

Tickets for the performance are $20-$55 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Venue and parking information

The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.