Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be able to catch season 11’s first runner-up — and Canada’s first-ever drag queen to be featured on the show — Brooke Lynn Hytes at the Winter Garden Theatre this weekend. For three performances from March 7–8, the Toronto native will be making a guest appearance with New York’s Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.
A former member of the company herself, Brooke Lynn Hytes is a classically trained artist who studied at the National Ballet School. She danced with the Trocks (as they’re known) for four years from 2008 to 2012. It was during her time with the company that she fell in love with the art of drag and decided to pursue it full-time. The Toronto run will be the first reunion between Brooke Lynn Hytes and the Trocks in almost a decade.
The world-renowned company is beloved for its satirical interpretations of classical ballet pieces. First formed in 1974 in New York, during the gay liberation movement, the all-male drag ballet company became a place for artists to find safe haven. Bringing together classical training with a passion for performance, the company found its niche in drag and comedy. Although seeing men in tutus is no longer as surprising as it once was 46 years ago, the Trocks have landed on a timeless combination of technique, athleticism, and personality that keeps their program fresh. The Trocks have toured to more than 500 cities, and their cast now includes artists from Chile, Japan, the United States, and more — having inspired a new generation of dancers to reach their full creative potential en pointe.
The Toronto program will feature favourites from the Trocks’ repertoire, including Dying Swan, Go For Barocco, and Walpurgisnacht, in addition to modern works. This will be the company’s first time in the city since their sold-out run of shows in 2017.
Information and tickets at showoneproductions.ca
Cover photo: Walpurgisnacht by Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo_Photo by Sascha Vaughan
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