Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, “Swan Lake.” Photo by Giovanni Daniotti.
When was the last time you laughed aloud at a classical ballet concert? Maybe never? Well, get ready for some big belly laughs if you’re lucky to catch Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, affectionately known as “The Trocks,” at the Kennedy Center.
Nothing is sacred at a Trocks show—not the great George Balanchine and his New York City Ballet, not Petipa, famous for his story ballets a la Russe, and not even the pre-show announcement to turn off cell phones. Instead we heard a male voice with a goofy Slavic accent, “In accordance with our Russian tradition, there will be program changes,” he emphasized, “so note the absence in this evening’s program of Natasha Notgoodenof!” So began the delight of watching two dozen men take on both male and female roles, all with hilarious pseudo names—Russian, of course.
…the Trocks brought classic ballet pieces to life with their own unique flair…a night of laughter, awe…It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
If you ever dreamed of seeing hairy, hirsute men in tutus perform perfect pirouettes while simultaneously trying not to trip over their own pointe shoes, this is the show for you. From the moment the curtain rose and Conductor Beatrice Jona Affron acknowledged the cheering audience, it was clear that this wasn’t your average ballet troupe.
Picture a lineup of chiseled men, sporting more glitter than a disco ball, ready to defy gravity with the grace of a swan and the comedic timing of a seasoned stand-up comic. While we listened to the lovely, familiar score from “Le Lac Des Cygnes” (“Swan Lake,” Act II), we watched the men in white tulle romp about. Prince Siegfried and his second, wildly wielded his bow and arrow weapon at the swans, who were waving their arms at a rapid pace, reminiscent of Lucille Ball gathering the chocolates off the conveyer belt in TV episode of “I Love Lucy.”
“Go for Barocco,” choreographed by Trocks’ founder Peter Anastos, followed “Swan Lake,” and the ballerinas soared in the spoof of Balanchine’s ballet of the same name, both set to music by J.S. Bach. The sexy black leotards were designed by Mike Gonzales with equally sexy lighting by Kip Marsh. If you closed your eyes for a second, you could easily imagine Balanchine’s ballerinas performing the Neo-classic work.
Kudos to Varara Laptopova with Pavel Todd and their Italian flair in the pa de deux. It’s amazing that these strapping lads can pull off a fouetté turn while winking at the crowd and simultaneously adjusting their wig, or banging a tambourine with the toe of their pointe shoe.
The pièce de résistance of the evening was their rendition of “The Dying Swan,” originally a solo for Anna Pavlova, created by Michel Fokine in 1905. Six-foot Olga Supphozova took on the role with panache and grace until her feathers started falling to the floor. The dying swan glided elegantly across the stage while somehow managing not to topple over her size 13 pointe shoes. There was an emotional connection to her poignancy, then came the laughter.
And oh, the costumes! Sequins, feathers, and more sequins adorned each costume, ensuring that even if the dancing didn’t leave you breathless, the sheer spectacle of their attire certainly would. The audience was in stitches from start to finish as the Trocks brought classic ballet pieces to life with their own unique flair.
In short, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo delivered a night of laughter, awe, and perhaps a few cringe-worthy moments for purists of the art form. But who said ballet couldn’t be a little bit cheeky? If you missed it, fret not. Just keep an eye out for the next time these tutu-clad titans grace a stage near you. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget. (P.S. It’s worth reading the program online—another chuckle.)
Running Time: Two hours, with two 15-minute intermissions.
“Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo” runs through Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1:30 pm at the Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (202) 467-4600 or go online.
