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Sunrise

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  1. I haven't rehashed any arguments. My point is just that attitudes have changed because of BLM and I thought that as result there may be more reluctance to stage Bayadere by some companies again, but I may well be wrong.
  2. I was just thinking about Bayadere in fact - the last time I commented on its appropriateness, the thread was shut down. But I think that because of BLM, there has been a shift in attitude in some of the arts and raises again the issue of cultural appropriation. One outcome is that the use of white actors to voice minority ethnic roles is stopping. So I think it's worth revisiting and asking the difficult question about whether it can really be performed again in the UK in its current form. Especially as it's not just a statue or painting or book, but a living breathing piece of art. I guess for me, I would be happy to preserve the third act and some excerpts, but I wouldn't see it again as a whole. Also, one point I didn't make last time was we don't know how dancers (from any company) might feel about dancing it, the sacred fire dance for instance. Do they have a choice to refuse to dance it? If they don't, how comfortable are we as an audience to pay for a ticket?
  3. When I used to attend lots of RB and ENB classes, they were packed to the brim (many dancers dribbling in late), were a mix of principals (all the big guns of that time, Bussell, Cojocaru, Nunez, Rojo - I'm trying to remember if Guillem or Acosta ever came to one), soloists and corps, and quite often the same dancers attended, so I can only assume they were there because they wanted to be! Occasionally the class was taught by a guest teacher and these were particularly well attended and principal heavy - I speculated that the organisers might have rigged this to ensure a treat for the audience 😉
  4. I welcome spirited discussion! But I felt that some of the vigour was directed towards invalidating and dismissing some of my (and similar) posts.
  5. Is there any point to moving posts when the performances and most of the encore screenings are over anyway?
  6. And by uncomfortable/embarrassed, I mean it takes me out of the ballet, it doesn't contribute to the Oriental fantasy.
  7. I didn't know that the fakirs are meant to be holy men - it doesn't come across at all. They are probably the most obvious problem I have with Bayadere for the reasons you give and they don't even contribute to the plot. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the audience who watches the fakirs dancing and grovelling and feel a bit uncomfortable/embarrassed. I'm curious what the dancers think of it.
  8. In my experience, PC Brigade, along with the "I was offended brigade" are used as shorthand to insult and ridicule opinions. You, along with many posters, express yourself very eloquently without needing such terms. Why throw them around so carelessly? I couldn't tell if they were directed at me. Their usage, along with suggestions to relax, and effectively be quiet or stay at home, is quite annoying and hurtful.
  9. But I don't think anyone was calling for Bayadere or any other ballets to be banned or anything that extreme. I feel like some of those defending Bayadere escalated to that on their own. I thought the discussion about the appropriateness of the Orientalism was quite interesting personally. I don't understand why that discussion can't be had without causing upset.
  10. I have to admit I'm one who doesn't go looking for critics reviews anymore. But if I had Twitter I could see the appeal in engaging with critics directly.
  11. I agree, with forums and social media, I think critics, whilst respected for their experience, have become just one voice amongst many.
  12. Aren't all ballets picked to pieces here? Of course not. But rereading the last couple pages of posts, the tone suggests that some of those who are "in favour" of Bayadere are more upset about this discussion than those who are "against". You could perhaps consider that some of us who have experienced racist abuse can also find frothy culturally insensitive ballets a bit uncomfortable as well as object to being referred to as the PC brigade. I appreciated toursenlair's post.
  13. I think terms like PC brigade are generally used to belittle other people and opinions. I think the terms and conditions of this forum are generally to try to be nice to each other even while disagreeing.
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