The boys are back in town
Naomi MacKay watched the 50th anniversary tour of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at Milton Keynes Theatre. On tonight only – Wednesday 3 June.
Celebrating fifty years of irreverent brilliance, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo returned to the Milton Keynes stage last night with a show that demonstrated precisely why the company remains one of dance’s most enduring and beloved attractions.
Founded in New York in 1974, the all-male troupe has built its reputation on affectionate parody, combining impeccable classical technique with razor-sharp comic timing. This anniversary tour proves that the formula is as effective as ever.
The programme offered a delightful blend of ballet’s greatest hits and the Trocks’ (as they are affectionately known by fans) trademark theatrical mischief. From the moment the dancers appeared en pointe, the audience was invited into a world where elegance and absurdity coexist. The company’s celebrated take on Swan Lake provided some of the evening’s biggest laughs, with exaggerated mannerisms, carefully choreographed mishaps and visual gags that never undermined the quality of the dancing. Indeed, the humour works because the technique is so accomplished.
Other works included the company’s famous Dying Swan (where did all those feathers come from?!), Go For Barocco, the dancers all in black and reminiscent of synchronised swimmers in this neo-new classic ballet, and the stunning Walpurgisnacht.
Every joke lands because it is rooted in a deep appreciation of the art form’s traditions and conventions. The dancers effortlessly shift between satire and sincere artistry, delivering turns, balances and jumps that would be impressive in any classical company.
The tour also served as a reminder of the company’s wider cultural significance. Long before conversations around gender fluidity entered the mainstream, the Trocks were challenging assumptions about who could perform ballet and how.
Fifty years on, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo continues to offer a carefully balanced blend of comedy and dazzling technique. With a ‘Riverdance’ encore, this anniversary tour was a triumphant celebration of a company that has never lost its ability to entertain, surprise and delight.
An added treat was the first-night Q & A session – if you see this show elsewhere and get the chance to stay, do. It offered a behind-the-scenes look at the passion and dedication behind the show, and the audience that stayed learned some fascinating facts behind the art of putting together an all-male ballet company.
Tickets at atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes.
The Trocks, Walpurgisnacht, photo Jim Coleman