Les Ballet Trockaderos de Monte Carlo – or The Trocks. (Courtesy photos)
The newest member of The Trocks all-male ballet company heads back to Texas
By Rich Lopez | Staff writer
Ballet may not be for everyone, but one dance company has been changing minds in its own way since the mid-70s. Or maybe they are just having fun along the way. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (or affectionately known as The Trocks) delivers itsballet with a twist.
The all-male company puts its spin on ballet classics through drag and comedy.
“We do a lot of fun things throughout the show because it’s fun to turn the story of Swan Lake into a comedy ballet,” dancer Shohei Iwahama said by phone.
Iwahama and the rest of the Trocks bring their talents to the Irving Arts Center for a one-night only performance on Friday.
Iwahama, who hails from Texas by way of Tokyo, talked with Dallas Voice about joining the company just last year after finishing his MFA studies at Sam Houston University in Huntsville in 2022. That makes him the Trocks’ newest member.
He auditioned for the company in December 2021.
“When I did, there wasn’t a spot really available. I went to New York to take their company classes and to audition to get on the list,” he said. “The dancer told me it takes like up to six months to join and the availability if i’m accepted.”
He also had to work on his dance thesis for his final semester before graduation. He performed that in March. With that under his belt and a diploma in sight, he reached back out to the Trocks to stay on their radar.
“They invited me to join the company for its Japan tour and it was all very fast,” he said. “I had two weeks of challenging rehearsals and then we were on the road. But I was very lucky.”
Although his training and education would maybe be considered “serious dancing,” he enjoys how this company takes that talent and turns it into something fun and accessible even for non-dance enthusiasts.
“I think that’s one of the special things about our ballet. It is for both people who are used to seeing ballet and those who are not. I think we have a broader audience that we can cater to because of that,” he said. “We do a lot of fun things throughout the show and insert a lot of jokes.”
Plus, he feels his own training helps him connect with the intent of the Trocks.
“I think my journey is unique and maybe different from the others. I wasn’t trained in classical ballet,” he explained. “I always explored areas of dance that were not strictly that.”
Another feather in his cap was that he happened to train in pointe shoes simply for strengthening. That certainly came in handy in his audition.
Iwahama also loved comedy – or at least being the funny guy.
“I maybe wanted to be a comedian but I knew I couldn’t get in front of people and talk,” he said. “This is perfect for me. I love making faces and being silly. It was a great way to show off these comedic aspects without the speaking parts.”
Iwahama’s dance skills got him in the company, but he had to have other talents – most notably makeup and hair. Each dancer has to do their own looks. He could do ballet makeup, but Trocks makeup was a little more involved. While he goes for a more exaggerated look, he says the company members all vary from more drag-style looks to a conventional made up face.
But when Iwahama’s character takes shape in front of him, the 34-year-old describes it as a liberating experience.
“I was never into doing drag but I enjoyed drag shows. What I love is that this isn’t associated with gender or sex, but I feel it gives me freedom. It’s OK to be whatever. I’m thinking only about being this character and not about being a woman or anything that particular.”
He describes the drag element as a tool for the Trocks. The purpose of it is to accomplish something further for the audiences whether it’s laughs or a new appreciation for dance, or maybe even new ideas.
Although based in New York – where the Trocks call home, Iwahama still has his ties to Texas. His friends are here as is his boyfriend (his husband lives in Canada). He danced with two companies in Houston and of course studied at Sam Houston. He even posted about Whataburger on Instagram when the guys got to Texas.
Now, Iwahama is ready to dance it up and camp it up for the Trocks’ North Texas audience on Friday.
“If you’ve never seen us before, just relax and laugh out loud. That good audience energy helps us perform because we feed off that,” he said.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performs Friday at 7:30 p.m at the Irving Arts Center.
