The Trocks Return to the Harris 1/24

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will present the highly anticipated return of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in an exciting new program, Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Back by popular demand following their sold-out 2010 engagement, the "cult superstars" (Chicago Magazine) affectionately known as "The Trocks," bring their playful, entertaining view of classical ballet in parody and in disguise-proving that men, can indeed dance en pointe without falling on their faces! Mixing impressive technique with sublime comedy, this all-male company of professional dancers is certain to delight and impress even the most knowledgeable dance lovers.

Tickets for the performance, which range from $45 - $75, are on sale now at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org.

The program for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Harris Theater will include:

ChopEniana

Music by Frederic Chopin; staged by Alexandre Minz

Le Grande Pas De Quatre

Music by Cesare Pugni; Choreography after Jules Perrot

Raymonda's Wedding-A traditionally confusing divertissement in two scenes

Music by Alexander Glazunov; Choreography after Marius Petipa

Additional work, to be announced

About Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of classical ballet in parody form and en travesti. Hailed as "wholly spectacular" and "stunning" by The New York Times, this company of professional male dancers performs the full range of ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works, in faithful renditions of the manners and conceits of those dance styles. The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The fact that men dance all the parts – heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, romantic princesses and angst-ridden Victorian ladies – enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing dance enthusiasts and novices alike. Having performed in over 500 cities in 33 countries worldwide, the Trocks have graced hundreds of stages around the globe, including a performance in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Variety Performance which Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended; as well as engagements at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Theatre Royal in Sydney, Australia.

With a vast repertoire that includes choreography by Merce Cunningham, Robert La Fosse and Agnes De Mille, the Trocks perform scenes from classical ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle and Go for Barocco, a satire on Balanchine's choreography, among others. Modern works performed by the company include The Dances of Isadora, a suite of waltzes originally choreographed by Isadora Duncan; Lamentations of Jane Eyre, a parody of Martha Graham's "Death and Entrances"; and Debut at the Opera, a dance after the paintings of Degas and first performed by Agnes De Mille in January, 1928.

Among the talented dancers in the company are Maria Gertrudes Clubfoot, the last of the great American Indian ballerinas; Lariska Dumbchenko, whose supreme agility enabled her to become the first ballerina shot into orbit; and Sveltlana Lofatkina, otherwise known as "The Chernobyl Cherub."

* * * All programs, prices and dates are subject to change. * * *

Opened in 2003, the Harris Theater's mission is to partner and collaborate with an array of Chicago's emerging and mid-sized performing arts organizations to help them build the resources and infrastructure necessary to achieve artistic growth and long-term organizational sustainability.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929 and today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and International Artists and ensembles.

To learn more about the season at the Harris Theater, visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call the box office at 312-334-7777 to request a brochure.

For additional information about the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago's state-of-the art 1,470 seat performance venue, please visit www.harristheaterchicago.org.

The Harris Theater has announced that UBS is serving as the 2011-2012 Season Sponsor.

Judith Neisser is the presenting sponsor of the Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo engagement.

United Airlines is the official airline of the Harris Theater's 2011-2012 Season.

Support for Harris Theater programming is provided by the Irving Harris Foundation Presenting Fund, established in 2006 to bring to Chicago artists or ensembles of the highest caliber which would normally not be seen here in order to complement the works of the Theater's resident companies and build audiences for the Theater.

All performances are on The Elizabeth Morse Genius Stage.

The Harris Theater is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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