+Bonus: interview with Tory Dobrin, Artistic Director
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, Les Ballets Trockadero first performed in the latelate shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts. By mid 1975, 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, was being noted beyond New York.Articles and notices in publications such as Variety,The Daily Telegraph, as well as a Richard Avedon photo essay in Vogue, made the Company nationally and internationally known. The original concept of Les Ballets Trockadero 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. For the future, there are plans for new works in the repertoire: new cities, states and countries to perform in; and for the continuation of the Trocks' original purpose: to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience. They have just appeared in the UK at Salford,Woking and High Wycombe. Sold more than 45.000 units for Warner.
"wonderfully terrible and terribly wonderful….Feathers and steps fly past in mad disarray, and it is all best fun. And, bless their artistic consciences, they respect the steps." Financial Times March 7/8
