I am sorry that people find La Bayadere offensive. I think it’s a magnificent ballet and it’s a shame it should be subject to cancel culture. Of course it is Orientalist but it’s a 19th century work! Context is everything. Good programme notes and intelligent set designs can go a long way to explain. Should we hide all Delacroix paintings because they are Orientalist? Actually, the Moroccans had a great exhibition in Rabat in 2021 about Orientalism and Delacroix was exhibited in all his glory. No one was offended by it, Orientalism was contextualised and that was enough. I will be going to Milan specially to see La Bayadere in June this year. La Scala follows Nureyev’s version but the ballet is presented with integrity. I have never seen Nicoletta Manni on stage but I believe she fully deserves her title of ‘etoile’. I hope that people will come to their senses and restage La Bayadere in the UK, with all due explanations, so that we can once again enjoy it in its entirety.
link:
https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/2023-2024/ballet/la-bayadere.html
