Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

The Trocks are back. A cheery company of flamboyant, ersatz Russian, male ballerinas once again commandeers Joyce Theater for cheeky interpretations and original collaborations. Fa La Dee Dah. Irreverence might entirely reign were the dancing not so good.
Le Lac Des Cygnes (Swan Lake Act II)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Thcaikovsky
Choreography after Lev Ivanovich Ivanov
A signature work of Les Ballets Trockadero, Act II features Prince Siegfried’s, Araf Legupski (Andrea Fabbri) love of Princess Odette,Colette Adae (Jake Speakman) turned into a swan by evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, Yuri Smirnov (Robert Carter) and the prince’s unsuccessful attempt to spirit her away with the help of bumbling Benno, Marat Legupski (Salvador Sasot).
Picture Swan Lake whirling on its usual toes when a bird trips and falls, brushes herself off, grimaces and continues; an awkward lift where the uncomfortable ballerina looks like a squirming sack; a magician who shoots lightening from his splayed fingers; a dancer who exits smack into a wall… Entrechat (jump where the feet cross in front and behind each other in quick succession) is graceful as are undulating arms.
Araf Legupski is, alas, expressionless. Anya Marx’s Joan Crawford mouth evokes a silent film. She’s adept.
Patterns in Space
Taped Music by Andrew Franck
Live Music after John Cage
Choreography after Merce Cunningham
Grunya Protazova (Salvador Sasot), Bertha Vinayshinsky (Sergio Najera), Pavel Tord (Marias Dominguez),
Musicians Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter and Timur Legupski (Jake Speakman) The “musicians” create sounds with everything from crumpled paper and kazoos to hitting a pot and baahing like a sheep. Three dancers move stiffly.
Yes, Virginia, Another Piano Ballet
Music Frederic Chopin
Choreography – Peter Anastos
Pavel Mikhail Mudkin (Raydel Caceres), Vyacheslau Legupski (Vincent Brewer), Anya Marx (Shohei Iwahama “with a grey chiffon underlay”), Ludmila Beaulemova (Trent Montgomery “with a slight tilt to the left”), Holly Dey-Abroad (Felix Milinero del Paso “with a sparkle in her eye”). Executed in ballet, not toe shoes.
A toy piano stage right is barely acknowledged. Dance is classical except: a ballerina is carried horizontally across the stage, kicks often end in flat feet not points, arms windmill, a smack of upturned sole evokes folk dancing, one performer falls over the piano (not easy), another is whirled folded over her partner’s shoulder on her stomach – and falls off. Dancing otherwise is an amalgam of traditional and contemporary. There’s lightness to this piece; ballooning (light jumping).
The Dying Swan, tonight played with extravagant skill, feeling and ego by veteran Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter). left her usual trail of molting feathers. And universal grins. Brava!
Raymonda’s Wedding
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Choreography after Marius Petipa
Attractively ornate Costumes by Mike Gonzales and Ken Busbin
Marvelous Décor by chas. b. slackman
Much of this is allegro. Cabriole (A jump in which the dancer extends their legs out from their body and beats their calves together before landing) is precise. Hierarchy seems clear. Choreographed court dancing reflects politesse. Spirits begin high and rise. The bride Varvara Laptopva (Takaomi Yoshino) does a neat cartwheel. She is, in fact, wonderful. Her partner, Count Jean de Brienne, Bruno Backpfeifengesicht (Felix Molinero del Paso) projects just the right attitude.
With Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter), Colette Adae (Jake Speakman), Titana Youbetyabootskaya (Andrea Fabbri), Varva Laptopova (Takaomi Yoshino)
Two observations having followed this company for years: Mens’ wigs are over the top campy which distracts from performance. An excess of mishaps, many of the same kind, takes away the element of surprise and anomaly. I particularly mean you, redhead. Satire should be played straight. Also WHERE are the hysterical Russian biographies to which we giggle through intermissions?
Photo of Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter) The Dying Swan by JL Marrero
My interview with Artistic Director Tory Dobrin.
Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Avenue
Through Sunday January 5, 2024