Live: The National Ballet of Canada's Rooster THE FOUR SEASONS CENTRE – MARCH 9 - by Christine Montgomery - Rooster = Cock. Cocky = Mick Jagger. Ergo, ballet dancers strutting like roosters to early Rolling Stones's tunes, symbolizing the '60s, the misogyny of the male-centered, 1960's British mod movement. Pretty cool concept, National Ballet of Canada, pretty cool. Choosing a band who both the most apathetic and most pretentious music fans loves makes Rooster a hot ticket way beyond the normal ballet realm. Sure, the half of us who fall into the latter category of Stones fans might be a little apprehensive, I mean I thought Rooster would be a horribly cheesy spectacle, but I was a good sport — mostly because people who go to the ballet are classier than I am, so I figure they must know better — and I just sat back and let it happen. I totally dig the ballet, but I know nothing about it. Ballet dancers kind of remind me of Stretch Armstrong dolls, and just like I had no idea that Stretch Armstrong was filled with corn syrup when I was a kid, I have no idea how to break down what's makes a good ballet dancer (possibly corn syrup?). BUT I can say that I know the Rolling Stones, and the National Ballet of Canada accomplished what I had hoped they would. The ballet didn't seem fluffed or misguided, the choreography was seemingly worked from the Stones' songs rather than using them as a hokey sort of crutch. All in all, it was playful, but focused. The interpretation of "Play with Fire" was especially compelling. It's also worth noting that the show was a mixed program of three separate ballets; the live piano solo for Chopin's 24 Preludes and the men's choir for A Soldier's' Mass were, audibly, much more impressive than the Rolling Stones' being blasted through speakers. But back to Rooster, since I think there's an interesting point to be made: Hipsters, you've been schooled at yo' own lesson. You think a moustache is ironic? What's more pungent is sexy built Eastern European men prancing around in tights baffooning the mods. And what better time to witness this misguided irony than when mod attitude is resurfacing? Just imagine a ballet 45 years from now with skinny pants and leather jacket laden men dancing like roosters to Justice. This ballet praises the Rolling Stones' accomplishments and tells them to fuck themselves at the same time. Awesome. So for everyone who thinks they're clever because they make allegories between ballet dancers and Stretch Armstrong, the National Ballet of Canada totally pulled a fast one on ya.