Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo

I must admit I have never really been a fan of ballet. For anyone like minded a good introduction to the art form then Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is as good as any.

Why they say that they are from Monte Carlo I am unsure as they originate from New York where they first started as a drag act. Recent TV programmes such as RuPaul’s Drag Race has brought Drag into the mainstream though the Trock’s have been performing since 1974 - back then they were ahead of their time.

The all male comedy ballet company were both mesmerising and beautiful as their hand gestures and dance movements must have taken years of practice to perfect. The age range of the dances ranged from 22 to 47 with all shapes and sizes on stage making the production an inclusive one.

Their performance at The Alhambra in Bradford featured their take on ballets such as Swan Lake and the Vivaldi Suite set against the music of Chopin and Tchaikovsky and although it all looked like a spoof their performances were in fact respectively done with comic timing and the blend of comedy and established dancing was impressive.

Naturally a bouquet of flowers was presented at the end of Swan Lake, albeit by a member of the Alhambra staff. Impressive too was the dying swan serene performed by Olga Supphozova also known as Robert Carter. As he made groaned his feathers began to stick to his arm as the audience laughed out loud, one of numerous points during the evening that made the night entertaining and enthralling- far from what I was anticipating.

An unexpected surprise indeed.

Runs until Saturday 15th October
The Alhambra, Bradford