Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
The Trocks are back imbuing classical ballet with good-natured mischief. If unfamiliar with the company, expect en pointe choreography danced by skilled men (in full tutu regalia and thick eyelashes) with a wink, inappropriate expression, or ersatz inadvertent stumble.
Tonight’s program begins with the signature Le Lac Des Cynes (Swan Lake Act II), music – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, choreography after Lev Ivanovich Inanov. We watch Prince Siegfried (Vladamir Legupski) and his somewhat bumbling friend/confident Benno (Boris Dumbkoft) go swan hunting. The two encounter a bevy of the elegant birds lead by Queen Odette (Nadia Doumiafeyva), a princess turned into a swan by evil wizard Von Rothbart (Jacques d’Aniels). Bow in hand, faced with the queen, Siegfried falls in love.
Four swans, arms crossed, ballon across the stage en pointe and demi pointe, one of them clearly grooving… finding their places, one swan inadvertently knocks over a sister…to Odette’s dismay, the prince gets handsey…A GREAT DEAL of lively sign language passes between the incipient lovers… Von Rothbart expresses his displeasure with expansive grand jetes and the conjuring of (projected) lightening…Odette finds herself at the center of a literal tug of war…the sorcerer slaps Siegfriend knocking him down…
The corps does well, Legupski is graceful, Laptova’s pirouettes and entrechats are splendidly controlled, her distress evident.
Photo by Alberto Rodrigalvarez
Swan Lake Pas De Trois– music – Tchaikovsky, choreography after Petipa features the very tall Helen Highwaters and Eugenia Repelski with the very short Timor Legupski partnering. Sight gag is the novelty here as the ladies, not quite trusting diminutive Legupski, sometimes aid each other in support of arabesque or pirouette. The two are well matched in finesse and precision. Lifting Legupski at the end of the piece acts as punctuation. One could do without the thumbs up.
Olga Supphozova performs another signature turn, The Dying Swan, music by Camille Saint-Saens. This begins with spotlight and prima not being able to connect and proceeds with a loss of sufficient feathers to fill a sizable quilt. Supphozova’s ports de bras are particularly marvelous. “The Trockadero offers its own distinctive interpretation of the terminal fowl.”
Tarantella-Music Louis Moreau, Gottschalk orchestrated by Hershey Kay, choreography after George Balanchine is performed by Varvara Laptova and Tino Xiru-Lopez, whose successful collaboration makes battement degage (rapid back and forth movement of the supporting leg) both defined and fluid. Choice of the ballet is odd, however, as the last offering is also Spanish themed and much worthier.
Majisimas – music Jules Massenet from the opera Le Cid, Staged with additional choreography by Raffaele Morra, evocative costumes by Christopher Anthony Vergara (tiered dresses with petticoats in different bright colors of which we see flashes). An aura of pride enhances attitude. Red, blue and orange fans are opened and snapped closed. Pronounced shoulder movement gives the piece an edge. Fouettes en tournant (pirouette with leg out) whirl to constant applause. Dancing is excellent, choreography appealing. Opportunity for flirtation/seduction present in Spanish dance is oddly eschewed.
Left: Eugenia Repelski, Right: Helen Highwaters (Photos Zoran Jelenic)
I’ve been following this estimable company for years. Though dancing remains excellent, a decision has been made to pander to a lower common denominator i.e. instead of the occasional moment of drollery spotlighting what’s majestic about performance, the evening is filled with obvious mugging and missteps. Were I to see them for the first time, I’d assume clowning was the point, ballet secondary which is not at all true. Still, the Trocks remain unique, talented, and gloriously irreverent.
Opening photo by Zoran Jelenic
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
The World’s Foremost All-Male Comic Ballet
Company Artistic Director – Tory Dobrin
Executive Director Liz Harler
Through January 8, 2022
The Joyce Theater
175 8th Avenue
Read my interview with Artistic Director Tory Dobrin about the origin and nature of the company.
