Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, December 12-17, 1995.LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is an all-male drag ballet corps parodying the clichés of romantic and classical ballet. It was founded by choreographer Peter Anastos in the United States in 1974 as a group producing small shows for friends, performing late-late shows in SYLVIA AND DANNY KAYE PLAYHOUSE DECEMBER 12-17, 1995 REVIEWED BY GUS SOLOMONS JR Sporting yards of sequined se·quin n. 1. A small shiny ornamental disk, often sewn on cloth; a spangle. 2. A gold coin of the Venetian Republic. Also called zecchino. tr.v. satin (with strategically ruffled panties pant·ie or pant·y n. pl. pant·ies Short underpants for women or children. Often used in the plural. [Diminutive of pant2. under capacious tutus), size EEE EEE eastern equine encephalomyelitis. EEE eastern equine encephalomyelitis. toe shoes, really bad wigs, and eyelashes out to here, pseudonymous Russian ballerinas and ballerinos storm the stage and for two hours hold us hostage with fractured versions of ballet classics. After several seasons away and a change of artistic direction, the Trocks are back in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , more flamboyant than ever. Punny names and fanciful biographies give them whimsical personas: Ida Nevasayneva (Paul Ghiselin) is too myopic to locate the exit wings; ebony beauty Karina Grudj (Rashonn James) is fiercely coy; perky blond Elena Kumonova (Mark Rudzitis) dances with real technical crispness; and, honey, don't mess with Natalia Schmaltzova (William Grinton). Unlike the St. Petersburg Male Ballet, seen earlier this season, which is tecknically polished and takes dancing in drag seriously, the Trocks play strictly for comedy, and original choreography is occasionally simplified to accommodate the dancers' abilities. In fact, technical lapses are part of the fun, although shaky pirouettes do merit some attention. Their signature Swan Lake is a comic riot. Vanya Verikosa (Brian Norris), "the hardest-working living ballerina," is Odette, protecting her six-swan flock from Medulli Lobotomov (Damien Thibodeaux) and Igor Slowpokin (Manolo Molina), as Prince Siegfried and his pal Benno, who are intent on turning them into pillow stuffing. Velour Pilleaux (Ghiselin) as Von Rothbart flounces his spangled span·gle n. 1. A small, often circular piece of sparkling metal or plastic sewn especially on garments for decoration. 2. A small sparkling object, drop, or spot: spangles of sunlight. crimson cape menacingly. Most of Petipa's original steps have devolved into dramatic posing and lots of arm-flapping, though the pantomime is crystal-clear: "No fooling around without a wedding ring," Odette gestures to love-struck Siegfried. And she's such a lively handful that Benno has to help the prince with some four-handed lifting. Peter Anastos's Go for Barocco is a howlingly snide Balanchine takeoff with six black-leotarded "sylphs" jutting hips, flexing feet, and braiding arms into daisy chains that get snarled. By the time we reach Goite Parisienne, the final ballet, everyone's so pooped the can-can can't quite. Muscular opera etoile Bertho Vinayshinsky (Thibodeaux) and glove seller Ludmila Beaulemova (Sam Lipton) both outweigh their male partners, William Vanilla (Carlos Fittante) and Pilleaux again, so they hoist the men. Eugenia Repelskii (Peter Richards) is a charmingly discombobulated dis·com·bob·u·late tr.v. dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing, dis·com·bob·u·lates To throw into a state of confusion. See Synonyms at confuse. Proprietress pro·pri·e·tress n. 1. A woman who has legal title to something; an owner. 2. A woman who owns or owns and manages a business or other such establishment. See Usage Note at -ess. Noun 1. , and grinning Flower Girl Vanya's still bouncing about on her pointes like a cheerleader. The travesty spectacle is greatly entertaining, but what gives it dimension is the appearance in the Grand Pas Classique of a genuine star: Tationa Youbetyabootskaya (Bart de Block Bart de Block (born October 22, 1968 in Ghent) is a professional Belgian ballet dancer known for his exceptional ability to perform pointework. He is also an occasional ballet teacher. Personal life Bart de Block was born on October 10, 1968 in Gent, Belgium. ), who needs no mugging to hold attention. Sporting a chic red French twist coiffure, the graceful, little dancer--who also dances with Berlin Opera Ballet--blends formidable technique with serene confidence. A first-rate dancer, s/he caps a final variation with double fouette turns that bring the audience to its feet, demanding an encore. De Block's dancing, a refreshing respite from the parody, puts the Trocks' campiness into perspective by reminding us how astonising it is to dance on the tips of your toes. |
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