BWW Reviews: The Trocks at NJ PAC Delight and Amuse

Les Ballet Trockadero De Monte Carlo performed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Victoria Theater in Newark, New Jersey, to a very appreciative audience on Sunday afternoon. "The Trocks," as they are affectionately known, presented an eclectic variety of ballet numbers in full drag, set to the finest classical music by Chopin, Bach, and Minkus. The company's works are the finest comedic dance art known to the Modern Stage; one which recognizes the beauty of ballet but allows the audience to see it with some humor.

The very original all-male company dances on toe, proving that men can keep their balance and perform intricate dance moves just as well as their female counterparts. As a matter of fact, there were moments in the performance that the audience believed they were viewing some of the finest classical ballet known to current companies. But, when a dancer has a spray of black chest hair, takes to the stage in horn-rimmed glasses, delivers an unexpected fall, or makes a comical expression, the unique performance quality of The Trocks is realized.

The afternoon began with Chopiniana, a classical ballet without narrative structure or defined characters. Eleven members of the company dressed as ballerinas, and one as the male dancer, performed the grand jetes and arabesques much admired by dance enthusiasts. However, when the lifts failed and a sleepwalking dancer fell off the stage, the cleverness of the playful ballet parody was delightfully evident.

The pas de deux, Go For Barocco, was second on the program. The piecetreated the audience to something altogether different. The typical romantic aura created by the ballet became an overly dramatic presentation; and it worked perfectly to entertain.

As a final piece, The Trocks performed Paquita. The dance is a superb example of the French style in the late 19^th century. With the full company performing, the often lively and colorful piece took a few surprising turns. While the individual dancers proved their enormous talent in solo vignettes, their slapstick interactions made the audience chuckle with pleasure. Awkward exits, silly poses, and a few unexpected collisions marked Paquita. The NJ PAC audience was charmed and enraptured by Les Ballet Trocadero De Monte Carlo and became another group of devoted enthusiasts that spans American and International Audiences.

Les Ballet Trocadero De Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting an entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form. The companyfirst performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts. Since its beginnings, the original concept has not changed. All male dancers perform a full range of ballet and modern dance repertoire to include classical and original works faithfully following the manners and conceits of the dance styles. The amusing foibles and exaggerated accidents do not mock the spirit of dance; rather they delight and amuse the most knowledgeable dance enthusiast.

The NJ PAC continues a spring full of dance performances including New Jersey Ballet on 4/13, Jersey Moves Festival of Dance on 4/27, Traces on 5/4, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 5/10 to 5/12. Tickets for all performances may be purchased by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), in person at the NJPAC box office located at One Center Street in downtown Newark, or online at www.njpac.org.

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