To think The NutCracker is racist

[Blueberries0112]

I don't know if it a common Christmas tradition to watch the ballot performance "The Nutcracker" in other other countries but I found it a bit too much for my liking. I feel like they can never get it right without seeming too racist.

I'm fairly sure that in 19th century Russia they weren't really all that woke.

Of course it's racist. I'm not sure where you are that it's a common Christmas tradition but I don't know anyone in the UK or IE who sits down to watch it every year. Or even once.

In the U.S. it is very popular

I'm confused, wracking my brains to see what is racist about it?

Everything is racist and you are privileged. HTH.

I'm confused, wracking my brains to see what is racist about it?

Putting makeup on to pretend you are of a different race whilst performing a caricature of some of that race is usually frowned upon these days.

Which bit is racist? (I have been in a performance of it, but I have no idea what happened in it!)

*someBODY

Putting makeup on to pretend you are of a different race whilst performing a caricature of some of that race is usually frowned upon these days. ahh that would do it

It is a beautiful piece of art, of its time. If you don't like it, and find it racist, @Blueberries0112, then don't watch it. I will carry on watching it because I find it festive and lovely.

observer.com/2020/06/phil-chan-yellowface-dance-ballet-racist-stereotypes/
Interesting article on the topic.

Well I've never seen a production with black face, I guess I'd say it was cultural appropriation or xenophobia but surely that be the way the dances are interpreted, I don't know I mean can you know have production of Aladdin now unless the actors are Arabic, though originally i believe it was set in China.

I love the nutcracker, have seen the ballet and the Matthew Bourne version and various TV versions. The music is amazing.
The Disney version is fantasia is very racist and don't show my children that. I had a version as a child when it was sweets dancing which worked.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

It is a beautiful piece of art, of its time. If you don't like it, and find it racist, *@Blueberries0112*, then don't watch it. I will carry on watching it because I find it festive and lovely.

I love it too, I just don't think anyone can do it right, I keep hoping someone will get it right .

That is an interesting article, of course people should not be mocking others for their culture and race, I'm guessing ballet will move with the times as others have.

It’s from 1892 ......

@TheMarzipanDildo - it will be some of the short dances that Clara watches in the Land of Sweets. Off the top of my head there's a Chinese dance and also an Arabian one, both of which are a bit 'stereotypical'.

OP - a lot of ballet companies are very well aware of this, and are finding ways to work round the issue, whilst also remaining true to the original Petipa choreography and Tchaikovsky's score.

How are you going to improve it?

The chinese characters are often depicted sterotypically in the way they move but it was written a long time ago when they were viewed as "exotic" and it's a fairy story. No one eats Sugar Plums today either so sugar plum fairies are also outdated. Clara wears a pretty dress and has long hair (sexist), it has life size mice in it (complete nonsense). If you are so easily offended don't watch it.

I should also point out that my local ballet company is extremely diverse and have dancers of Chinese ethnicity do the Chinese dance etc.

I agree Chinese ballet dancers tend to get these roles. Some of the greatest ballet dancers are Chinese.

I love the nut cracker. See it every year at the royal opera house.

Oh dear! DD2 and I have been enjoying the book version of it and I was looking forward to finding a ballet to show her. Had no idea it was problematic?

people should not be mocking others for their culture and race

I've never seen any of those dances as mocking, actually. Stereotypical yes, but no insulting stereotypes.

We watch it every year, I have never seen a version with blackface or racist overtones. Productions are updated.