JAPAN: "LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO " COMEDY DANCERS PERFORM IN STREET PERFORMANCE TO RAISE MONEY FOR SEPTEMBER 11TH TERROR VICTIMS

Record ID: 862596

  • Title: JAPAN: "LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO " COMEDY DANCERS PERFORM IN STREET PERFORMANCE TO RAISE MONEY FOR SEPTEMBER 11TH TERROR VICTIMS
  • Date: 9th February 2002
  • Summary: VARIOUS, TROCKADERO PERFORMING "SWING JAZZ" SMV PEOPLE APPLAUDING SLV OF TROCKADERO TAKING BOW
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City:
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAAEXFDMW5AH46UF2MECRJ8S7U3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Tokyo has been given an early Valentines' Day treat by a troupe of male ballet dancers in fluffy white tutus who held a street performance to raise money for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
    After changing into their white tutus and a thorough makeover, the four members of New York-based Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo were ready for the charity event on the streets of Tokyo crowded with weekend shoppers.
    The dancers are part of an all-male ballet company who came to Japan to thank their enthusiastic fans for writing E-mails and letters of support after the September 11 attacks.
    "As a result of the incident of September 11, we got lots of E-mails and letters and care packages with hopes of well being which we greatly received and it was really nice to know that people cared, and so we are trying to give back a little bit," said Robert Carter, one of the dancers who participated in the "Come on New York!" event held on a make-shift stage in Tokyo's trendy Shibuya district.
    In between performances of a dance from "Swan Lake" and a dance to the tune of "Swing Jazz", the four dancers handed out Valentines chocolates to their adoring, mostly female, fans.
    Charity organizers jostled through the crowd to gather donations for the victims of the September attack on Trockadero's hometown.
    "We are trying to encourage the Japanese people -- fans, supporters and friends -- to come to New York and enjoy not just our beautiful country but our beautiful city because there is just so much that people can absorb from a visit to New York," Carter added.
    The ballet company started in 1974 as an off Broadway act which performed parodies of ballet classics with the aim of making the art form more accessible to people.
    Trockadero has a large following throughout Japan and every summer the troupe spends nearly a month touring the country.
    "It was so good! I am a fan club member, and I really like New York so I am happy that they are doing such an event," said Keiko Sano, a company employee who came to see the performance with her friend.
    "Trockadero usually comes during the summer, but I am really glad to be able to see them in the winter this time,"
    she added.
    "They came to Tokyo to do this despite the cold and I am really touched," another fan, Sachiko Suda, said.
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