Kicking Off Mardi Gras with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Photo by Sascha Vaughn

 “The funniest night you’ll ever have at the ballet.”-Sunday Times, UK

For the first time since 1983, the lovable all-male company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will travel to New Orleans in January for a one-night only performance to kick off the Mardi Gras season.  Affectionately known as the “Trocks,” the ballet troupe will take to the stage at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of Performing Arts on Friday, January 29 at 7:30 pm.

By blending a passion for classical ballet with an affectionate parody of great choreographers, The Trocks prove that hairy men in tutus and makeup can, indeed, dance on pointe without falling on their faces.  The evening begins with their signature work, Le Lac Des Cygnes (Act II) of Swan Lake, as staged by Trutti Gasparineti after Lev Ivanov and set to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  Also on the program is Patterns in Space, a modern work in the style of Merce Cunningham, and La Viviendere, a ballet set to music by Cesare Pugni that introduced the Polka of Bohemia to 19^th-century London. The Trocks close the performance with their variation on Marius Petipa’s classic French work Paquita, with music by Ludwig Minkus.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was originally founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts who wanted to present a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form. The dancers adopt outrageous stage names, such as Ida Nevasayneva, Katarina Bychkova and Minnie Van Driver, and create outlandish back stories and alter egos to match. But a performance by the Trocks is more than just parody. “The comedy works because the dancers’ technical prowess goes far beyond what the conceit of guys-in-tutus might initially suggest,” says the Minneapolis Star Ledger. “These are artists who can toss off a dozen rapid-fire fouettés in their size-13 pointe shoes without turning a hair on their bun-headed wigs.”  The Trocks’ inspired combination of a loving knowledge of dance and impeccable comic approach garners increasing national and international attention, and the company has appeared in over thirty countries and over five hundred cities worldwide since its founding. 

            In celebration of the Trocks return to New Orleans and the start of Mardi Gras, NOBA and BRAVO (Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization) will also host a post-performance masquerade celebration with the dancers of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Chaired by Chet Pourciau and Eric Hess, the party will be held at the home of Vincent Saia and Glynn Stephens, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet the dancers. Tickets to the party are $50 with purchase of tickets to the Trocks performance, and $75 without Trocks performance purchase. Proceeds benefit the New Orleans Ballet Association.

The Trocks performance begins at 7:30pm; ticket prices range from $20 to $125. Students and seniors (65 and older) receive a $7 discount off the regular ticket prices of $40 and higher. Group discounts also are available. For tickets or information, call the New Orleans Ballet Association Box Office at (504) 522-0996. Tickets may be purchased online throughwww.nobadance.com, or via Ticketmaster at (504) 522-5555 or www.ticketmaster.com.

This performance is generously supported by Lilia Carrion and Andrew Gross, and Barry J. Cooper, Jr. and Stuart H. Smith.