Robert Tanitch reviews Les Ballets Trocadero de Monte Carlo at Peacock Theatre, London WC2
The Trocks, as they are affectionately known, are an all-male dance company in tutus and pointe shoes. They have been going now for over 40 years and their fame is worldwide.
They have cod-Russian names (which you need to say out loud): Nadia Doumiafeyva, Ida Nevesayneva, Mira Paranova and Sergeiy Legupski.
The Trocks, broad and subtle, can be enjoyed by balletomanes and audiences who know nothing about ballet
They are not only funny, really funny, they are also amazing dancers. They can parody classical 19thcentury ballets with slapstick (pratfalls, ballerina with spectacles, ballerina eating banana) and they can do them properly (32 fouettees). Their pointe work is authentic
Their classical repertoire includes Swan Lake Act II, Le Corsaire duet, Esmeralda Pas de Six,Parquita and The Dying Swan who moults and moults and moults all over the stage. Joshua Thake is the Dying Swan.
One of the many high spots, which can be taken absolutely seriously, is the dazzling pyrotechnics by Laszlo Major and Carlos Hopuy in Le Corsaire duet
Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo is touring the UK throughout October and November and can be seen in Newcastle, Southampton, Canterbury, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Inverness, Bradford, Nottingham, Brighton, Salford and Birmingham.
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