Ballet boys drag it up

Les Ballets Eloelle’s all-male ensemble is currently traversing the country performing Men In Pink Tights, the follow-up show to the 2007 hit Men In Tutus.

Billed as the ‘ultimate send-up of classical ballet’, the production puts its male cast in female and male roles, mixing classical dance with intentional foibles, mishaps and diva hissy fits.

“At first, people thought it was just a lot of guys not doing ballet very well, but times have changed, and it’s progressed,” artistic director Victor Trevino, who also dances in the ensemble, said.

“I wanted to move the genre forward, so the comedy is more in the characters and how they interact on stage, rather than them just dancing poorly. It leaves the audience with a better experience, and a better taste of what dance is about.

“A lot of people think dance is elitist and not for them, but with comedy we really break down that stereotype.”

Les Ballets Eloelle started from humble beginnings — a small group of male dance enthusiasts in early ’90s New York who’d raid the costume and wig departments of the companies they worked for to perform obscure ballets.

Since then, male ‘drag’ ballet has evolved to become a legitimate subset of the dance world.

“It’s almost all trained dancers now who take their turn at seeing how the other half lives,” Trevino said.

And how is it, seeing how the other half lives?

“It’s challenging — dancing on your toes is difficult. To layer comedy on top of that is hard. But it’s also really rewarding, because you have an instant rapport with the audience.

“It’s not like traditional ballet at all — in traditional ballet the audience basically sits on their hands until the end of the performance. This is so much warmer and more fun.”

Ultimately, Trevino said he sees the company as ambassadors for the world of classical dance, offering a taster for those who might go on to see more traditional works.

And with the company’s queer, gender-bending roots, he also sees Les Ballets Eloelle as ambassadors for tolerance and diversity.

“The company is not 100 percent gay, but there’s enough of us. It’s safe to assume there’s one or two,” he laughed. “So I see us as ambassadors in that way too.

“We play in a lot of conservative areas and play to people who are enjoying this art form for the first time. Hopefully they leave thinking positive thoughts about men dressed in tutus!”

INFO: Men In Pink Tights is touring Australia until July. Full tour dates at www.lionelmidfordpublicity.com