Robert La Fosse danced in numerous ballets by Jerome Robbins during his years as a principal dancer with both American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet, but one of the few in which he never appeared was The Cage, Robbins’ audaciously brilliant portrayal of a fierce society of female insects that destroys any male intruders. But now the versatile dancer/choreographer (whose deft interpretation of Herr Drosselmeier is a mainstay of NYCB’s current Nutcracker performances) is offering his own spin on the 1951 Robbins masterwork, having choreographed La Cage for the ever-enterprising “ladies” of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.
“I think it’s a very obvious—and ironic—choice for the Trocks: a ballet about killing men,” says La Fosse. La Cage is all his own choreography, with “images and certain iconic things” in it that are from Robbins. There are also a couple of subtle references to Balanchine and other ballets. It’s all done with love and kindness and respect—and of course, male primo ballerinas.
“I’m not really trying to go for laughs—not going for that slap-your-thighs kind of humor. I’m trying to make a very straightforward piece, so wherever the laughs come, they come,” explains La Fosse. “The Trockadero have their way of adding different spices to the ballet that enhance it. They do play it for laughs; I always have to rein them in. I say, ‘Just play the moment, be in the moment’—as Robbins would say to us.”
The distinctive look of Robbins’ vicious female insects—the flesh-colored leotards with black swirled designs, and wildly teased hair—will be there, La Fosse promises. “They’ve done some strange things with the teased hair; that’s sort of inevitable with the Trockadero!” And there’s an original score by Geoff Gersh that includes electric guitar, violin and percussion. “We’ve added a new dimension to it – a little bit more rock ’n’ roll. Some of it is built around the Stravinsky, but some is built around Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho score.”
The Trocks’ current season also includes their beloved, authoritatively hilarious versions of Swan Lake, Les Sylphides and The Dying Swan. But it also features another new production that’s also a venture into 20th century ballet: Gaite Parisienne, staged for them by Susan Trevino. One can already anticipate the unique delights of that famous can-can, Trocks-style!
Through Jan. 7. Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave. (at 19th St.), 212-242-0800; Tues.-Wed. 7:30; Thurs. & Fri. 8; Sat. 3 & 8; Sun. 3, $32 (members)/$44.
