Dance: Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

By Kelly Apter
Published on 25/02/2013 04:24

Regulars on the touring circuit for almost 40 years, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo inevitably attracts a lot of repeat business.

Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

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There will always be newcomers to the “Trocks” experience, but loyal fans of this all-male ballet troupe are in abundance – and for good reason.

Always a treat, never a chore, a night with the Trocks is a unique experience. Dance that is guaranteed to be laugh-out-loud funny is thin on the ground; mix it with high quality classical ballet and you’ve got a compelling reason to head to the theatre.

Some gaffes are well-worn (dancers knocking each other over with the whisk of a pointe shoe, or a member of the corps de ballet running to catch up with the rest of the gang) but never grow old and always elicit gales of laughter.

But we’re not just here for the intentional botches and bloopers. Equally well received is the dancing that’s delivered straight (or as straight as any Trocks piece can be).

In particular, Chase Johnsey and Carlos Hopuy as Odile and the Prince from Swan Lake delivered a superb pas de deux, only camped up by the quick drag of oxygen Johnsey took after perfectly executing the infamous 32 fouettes.

For those new to the dance world, the Trocks are the perfect way in.

For dance aficionados, it’s a night out that neither challenges nor dumbs down.