Formed in 1974 off-off Broadway in New York City, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - or as they are affectionately known, The Trocks - struck a chord with their inspired blend of parody and playful homage to the formal world of classical ballet. The twist - all the parts were played by men: the heroes and heroines, the villains, the swans, the princesses.
Thirty six years later, The Trocks have become an international phenomenon, subtly lampooning the conceits and manners of the Russian style in their all-male dance extravaganzas. They've played in over 500 cities (in 30 countries) and performed TV specials for Shirley MacLaine, Jennifer Saunders and the South Bank Show in London.
What makes the Trocks so beloved of aficionados and dance novices alike is the skill, athleticism and sublime comic timing that they bring to the stage, making their gratuitous gaffes and hilarious pratfalls so effortless and infectious.
Programme Two features the second act of Swan Lake and a pas d'action from Marius Petipa's delightful Harlequinade. The evening is completed by Valpurgeyeva Noch ("Walpurgisnacht") - set to music from the opera Faust.
