Victor Trevino had grand dreams to be a professional dancer, but kept being knocked back because he was too short.
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Men needed to be tall, apparently, to make it as a serious ballet dancer.
That’s where comedy came in.
“Originally … it was really about the dancing but then I learnt to really love comedy,” he said.
“After 10 years of being in another company I decided i wanted to explore and put my own thing together so that’s what I did.”
His Men In Pink Tights production is more than drag queens in pointe shows, according to Trevino.
He said they’re aim is not to give the illusion of being women, they’re simply men trying to be graceful in parts traditionally cast to women – with slapstick comedy thrown in.
“It’s a lot about how the characters interact with each other, it’s more about that and about how these dance stories tell something about these people falling in love … and how funny that can be,” Trevino said.
“In real life it doesn’t happen beautifully, generally all those stories are awkward.”
Male ballet dancers traditionally are to look “stronger and powered into the ground” over their female counterparts whom are assisted by pointe shoes.
“My take is the shoe defies gravity ... and it makes a woman look ethereal and light,” Trevino said, noting many in the production will be wearing them.
Some of the dancers do manage to look ethereal and light, he said, while others look miserable because they’re putting their full weight on their toes.
“The dancers are professional and they make it look easy but it’s not easy,” Trevio laughed.
“Some of them are shockingly good.”
Men In Pink Tights will feature scenes from Spartacus, Romeo and Juliet, La Corsaire and The Dying Swan.
It comes to the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre for one night only, Saturday October 27. www.merrigong.com.au