Men En Pointe!
What if we told you there was a ballet company, founded in New York, made up of all men dancing en pointe? Hard to believe, right? That company, known as Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, exists and they're still as influential today as when they began, almost five decades ago.
Many people still believe that pointe work is only meant for ciswomen*, but we're here to shed some light on why it's not. First and foremost, all types of dance are for all types of bodies and people. No one style of movement is limited to one gender. In fact, the biggest difference between 'male' and 'female' roles in ballet simply has to do with anatomy and center of gravity. Typically, male bodies have higher centers of gravity, allowing them to jump higher, and they're typically stronger, thus, all of the partnering. There's also a lot to say about classical ballet upholding some outdated gender norms; movement meant for 'women' is graceful, while movement meant for men is stronger and more athletic. We're loving that these ways of thinking are slowly being challenged more today than ever before, however, it still isn't where it should be.
That's one of the reasons why we love Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Since 1974, this all-male drag ballet troupe has parodied the conventions of romantic and classical ballet. Under the artistic direction of Tory Dobrin, this company of 14 male dancers has brought to life Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Swan Lake, Stars and Stripes Forever, and many other well-known ballets. Having performed in over 600 cities in more than 40 countries, these international dance stars (affectionately known as the TROCKS) continue to prove that men can dance en pointe too!
Interested in seeing the TROCKS do their thing? Check out their performance schedule here. If you want to check out some of their videos to learn more, click here or check out the video below!
If you're a non-female identifying person interested in dancing en pointe, our Allegro fitters are happy to work with you to find that perfect fit! With over 70 styles of shoes, and an incomparable understanding of feet, as well as the demands of pointe work, we're well-equipped to help any dancer looking to start their pointe journey. Click here to schedule a fitting in one of our stores, or email orders@allegrodanceboutique.com for any questions relating to this (or almost any) topic!
*Cisgender - Refers to people whose Gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth (cis- from Latin, meaning, “on this side [of].” In contrast to trans, from the Latin root meaning “across,” “beyond,” or “on the opposite side [of]”).
