Les Ballets Trockadero Bring 40th Anniversary Tour to Kingsbury Hall Tonight

Toeing the line between high art and high camp, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is an international phenomenon, beloved for its parodies of ballet classics like Swan Lake, as well as modern works. The Trocks, as they are affectionately known, will perform at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus tonight, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 to $49.50, with a $5 ticket for U of U students and a $10 ticket for all other students, and are available at www.kingtix.com or by calling 801-581-7100.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary season, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti. The comedy of the Trocks is only outmatched by their technical prowess. This all-male ballet company, delicately stuffed into tutus and man-sized toe-shoes, will delight dance aficionados and newbies alike. The Trocks' inspired blend of their loving knowledge of dance, their comic approach, and the astounding fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces, has made the them an internationally beloved company.

For their Salt Lake City performance the troupe will perform one of their signature works, Le Lac Des Cygnes from Act II of Swan Lake (Music: Tchaikovsky, Choreography: Ivanov), as well as Paquita (Music: Minkus, Choreography in the style of Petipa) and Go For Barocco (Music: Bach, Choreography: Anastos), plus a Pas de Deux or modern work to be announced from the stage.

The original concept of The Trocks 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 fact that men dance all the parts--heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses, angst-ridden Victorian ladies--enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing the most knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audiences.