All-male ballet troupe full of fun

WANT to see macho guys with extra-long eyelashes perform clumsy pirouettes in glittering tutus?

Then you are in for a treat when the first all-male ballet troupe performs at the Artscape Opera House next week. Les Ballet Elloelle’s Men in

Tutus will be in the city until April 21.

However, instead of being moved to tears, the audience will be moved to laughter.

Men in Tutus was founded by Victor Trevino in New York in 1996 and consists of allmale prima ballerinas from places as far-flung as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, the US, UK, Australia, Spain, Japan and the Philippines.

Trevino explained that for their South African tour Men in Tutus will put their comedic spin on 50 ballets, including the famous Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. Their tour will also feature Le Grande Pas De Quatre, Le Corsaire Pas de

deux, Go for Barocco (a Balanchine parody), the Dying Swan and the full second act

of Swan Lake.

Trevino added that this has been aimed at challenging what is expected of male and female ballet dancers.

He said the inspiration behind Men in Tutus came from the belief that ballet was only meant for a select audience. After the shows audiences are welcome to say hello to the dancers and even pose for some selfies. Trevino said he hoped Men in Tutus would make ballet more acceptable to a much wider audience.

After their tour in South Africa, the Men in Tutus will be leaping off to Japan in June, then China, Malaysia and Singapore.