Ballet with a Twist: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo to Bring Humor and Elegance to IU Auditorium
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – IU Auditorium is proud to present Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world’s most foremost all-male comic ballet company, on Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m. Affectionally known as the Trocks, the intentionally beloved troupe of dancers arrive in Bloomington as part of its landmark 50th anniversary season.
For the IU Auditorium performance, the Trocks will perform a brilliant combination of skillful pointe work and hilarious parodying of classical ballet favorites like Swan Lake and more.
Founded in New York City in 1974, the company began by appearing in late-late shows in off-off Broadway lofts for small audiences who appreciated the iconoclastic humor of it all. In the nearly 50 years since then, the company has grown to achieve great appeal among more mainstream audiences who, each season, flock to theaters throughout the world to see these prima ballerinas perform.
“Prepare to be dazzled as the Trocks grace our stage for an evening of humor, artistry, and unparalleled skill in a display of dance excellence,” said IU Auditorium Executive Director Maria Talbert. “This internationally acclaimed, gender-bending ballet troupe will captive our audience with a unique blend of classical ballet with comedic flair, offering an evening of sheer delight and entertainment.”
The company dances en travesti with razor-sharp wit and breathtaking pointe work, performing polished parodies of works that span the classical ballet canon. Revered by ballet aficionados as well as the uninitiated—those who don’t know a plié from a jeté—the Trocks are “a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals.” (Sydney Star Observer).
Film Screenings of Ballerina Boys
February 2 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.
IU Radio and TV Building Theater Room 251
IU Auditorium is partnering with Ryder Film Series to present two screenings of the PBS documentary Ballerina Boys, a behind-the-scenes portrait of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo on February 2 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Ryder Film Series is sharing 50 percent of the proceeds from these events to Bloomington Pride.
The February 23 showing will also feature a post-film Q&A with the company’s ballet master, Raffaele Morra. All of this is in anticipation of the live stage performance by the company taking place at IU Auditorium on Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m.
Ballerina Boys tells the story of The Trocks and how it became the world’s foremost gender-skewing comic ballet company. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the company has shared their signature style and message of equality, inclusion, and social justice with audiences around the world. The men perform classical ballet en pointe and in drag, challenging the art form’s rigid gender norms as they mix rigorous technique with comedy and satire.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at IU Auditorium is presented in partnership with the IU Queer Philanthropy Circle. IU Auditorium’s 2023–2024 season is presented by B97, Cook Medical, Curry Auto Center, The Herald Times, Upland Brewing Company, and World Arts Inc.
