Collin Kirdahy The History Of Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo

Ballet III
Prof. Michael Lambert
Fall 2016
When we look at tradition through art there is always fluctuations and changes. If we
specifically look at how the world of dance has evolved and how we as dancers have
progressed there is beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder normally, but the social
definition of normal allows us to look at Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo and know that
there is beauty there. The history of the company is just as beautiful as the group itself.
1974 was a year of many happenings, but more specifically a year where the view on
men in ballet would change. As Mikhail Baryshnikov continued to present the dance world with
his absolute beauty, a group of ballet enthusiasts put together a group. The group had, and has,
the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody
form and en travesti1. The english translation of en travesti2 as translated through google is,
in transvestite3. What this more specifically means is that a group of performers would be
performing as the opposite gender. Although we, as people who know english, refer to this as
drag. The first performance of The Trocks, as theyre more famously known, was in the 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.4 Numerous publications
recognized their art, including The Village Voice, and the New York Times. Through the following
years the company would grow and develop more of a professionalism.
Through professionalism they became the more known and more trained company we know
today. The Company found management, qualified for the National Endowment for the Arts
Touring Program, and hired a full-time teacher and ballet mistress to oversee daily classes and
1 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
2 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
3 "Google Translate." Google Translate. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
4 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.

Collin Kirdahy The History Of Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo

Ballet III
Prof. Michael Lambert
Fall 2016
rehearsals.5 In having people to watch over the rehearsal and class process the company
blossomed. As stated prior the knowledge that men could dance en pointe as well as in full drag
was a huge piece of news for the world. The word of the now internationally famous company
spread. The 1975-76 season was their first season touring not only the United States, but
Canada. This beginning their fame internationally. Since their more gritty and grungy off-off
broadway beginnings we now know that the trocks have performed in over 500 cities in over 33
countries, thus establishing themselves as a huge dance phenomenon. Being the dance
phenomenon that they were and still are allowed them such incredible opportunities. They

have participated in dance festivals in Bodrum (Turkey), Bogota, Holland, Finland, San
Luis Potosi, Madrid, Montreal, New York City, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Spoleto, Turin, and
Vienna.6 Not only have the Trocks invaded numerous stages, but also numerous
screens. The Trocks had made numerous appearances on television shows such as, the
Dick Cavett Show, Whats My Line? Real People, On-Stage America, Muppet
Babies, and a BBC Omibus special hosted by Jennifer Saunders. The Trocks are not
only known in the public eye, but also in the dance world.
The speceficity and tact of the dancers allowed them to achieve recognition not
only through television and stage, but in the dance world. The dance world has
recognized the group through the presentation of numerous awards. The awards
that Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo include, best classical repertoire
from the prestigious Critics Circle National Dance Awards (2007) (UK), the
Theatrical Managers Award (2006) (UK) and the 2007 Positano Award (Italy) for
excellence in dance7 The company is not only a very skilled, talented, and
artistically inclined group but a very generous group. The generosity of the group
continues through today.
The Company continues to appear in benefits for international AIDS
organizations such as DRA (Dancers Responding to AIDS) and Classical Action in
New York City, the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria, Dancers for Life in Toronto,
Canada, Londons Stonewall Gala and Germanys AIDS Tanz Gala. In addition,
The TROCKS have given, or participated in special benefit performances for

5 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
6 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
7"History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.

Collin Kirdahy The History Of Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo

Prof. Michael Lambert

Ballet III
Fall 2016

Connecticut Ballet Theater, Ballet Hawaii, Indianapolis Ballet Theater, Rochester

City Ballet, Dancers in Transition (NYC), Sadlers Wells Theater in London and
the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Young Audiences / Arts for Learning
Organization, and the Ali Forney Center, benefiting homeless gay youths in New
York City. In 2009, the Trocks gave a benefit performance for Thailands Queen
Sirikits Scholarship Fund in Bangkok, which helps finance schooling for children
of impoverished Thai families. The benefit helped raise over four hundred
thousand dollars.8

Not only is the group continuously charitable, but continuously known for their talent.
The group now 40 some odd years old, and still known for being charitable, as well as talented,
but what's even more impressive is that the original ideas for the group have not changed. The
company website states very eloquently, 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.9 The idea that they are heavy bodied men balancing and dancing
ballet en pointe is not only something that continues to excite but leave people in awe. The
group very openly wants to explore more cities, add to their repertoire and continue the original
purpose for the Trocks.
In forty years the group has not only come a very far way, but shown that they are a
force to be reckoned with. They have explored numerous cities and countries, as well as achieved
awards that would only be considered parts of a hugely successful career. They will, as they

have done for forty years, Keep on Trockin.10

8 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
9 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
10 "History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.

Collin Kirdahy The History Of Les Ballets Trockaderos De Monte Carlo

Prof. Michael Lambert

Ballet III
Fall 2016

Works Cited
"Google Translate." Google Translate. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
"History." Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.