Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo facts for kids
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is a special American ballet company. It is made up of men who dance all the parts, even the female ones! They perform in a funny style called "drag," where men dress up as women. The company is often called "the Trocks."
The Trocks are famous for making people laugh. They create funny versions of classic ballets. These include famous shows like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. They combine amazing ballet skills with humor.
What is Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo?
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is a unique dance group. All the dancers are men. They perform both male and female roles in ballet. This means they wear tutus and pointe shoes, just like female ballerinas.
Their shows are a mix of serious ballet and comedy. They make fun of traditional ballet moves. They also poke fun at the serious world of dance. But they do it with great skill and respect for the art form.
How the Trocks Started
The company began in New York City in 1974. Three friends, Peter Anastos, Natch Taylor, and Antony Bassae, started it. They wanted to create a new kind of ballet. Their first show was on September 9, 1974.
At first, they performed in small, late-night shows. These were in places called "off-off Broadway" theaters. Soon, people started to notice them. A famous dance critic, Arlene Croce, wrote about them in The New Yorker magazine. This helped them become very popular.
Dancing Around the World
After gaining attention, the Trocks started performing in bigger places. They have danced in many large cities all over the world. People everywhere love their funny and skillful shows.
In 2008, they performed for Prince Charles in the United Kingdom. This was at a special event called the Royal Variety Performance. It showed how famous and respected the Trocks had become. Tory Dobrin was the artistic director in 2011. He helps guide the company's performances.
