Behind the curtain, long before the first ripple of laughter reaches the auditorium, a very different kind of ballet is already underway.
For 50 years, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, affectionately known as The Trocks, have built an international reputation on their joyous, razor-sharp parody of classical ballet. On stage, it’s a riot of tutus, arched brows and exaggerated elegance. Backstage, however, the reality is one of intense discipline, physical endurance and meticulous craft.
Each performer in the gender-skewing company trains to inhabit two distinct identities: the ethereal ballerina and the technically precise danseur. That duality isn’t just a comic device – it’s a demanding physical challenge. Switching between personas requires not only costume changes but a complete transformation of movement quality, posture and presence. Pointe work, often the punchline for audiences, is treated with absolute seriousness behind the scenes, with hours of conditioning ensuring both safety and finesse.
Rehearsals are where the magic is truly forged. Timing – comic and choreographic – is everything. A perfectly held pause, a deliberately “wobbly” balance or an overblown flourish must land with split-second precision. What appears spontaneous is always carefully calibrated, the result of relentless repetition and a shared understanding of rhythm between dancers.
Costume and makeup add another layer to the transformation. False eyelashes, elaborate wigs and flamboyant tutus are donned with practised efficiency, each detail contributing to the illusion. Yet beneath the blush and satin lies the same rigour you’d expect from any elite ballet company.
The result? Performances that manage to be both affectionate satire and technically impressive dance. As one critic famously put it, audiences may arrive ready to laugh, but they stay to marvel.
Dublin audiences will get their chance to discover the genius of The Trocks when this beloved company returns to Dublin to open the 2026 Dublin Dance Festival, bringing their unique blend of virtuosity and mischief to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on 30 April and 1 May at 7:30pm. A perfect curtain-raiser for the festival, it promises an evening where comedy pirouettes effortlessly with craft – and where ballet, in all its forms, is celebrated with a knowing wink.
For the full programme and to plan your festival journey, visit dublindancefestival.ie.
Lead Image: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo © Vito Lorusso
