Choreographing change
Companies rework ‘Nutcracker’ depictions in response to wave of anti-Asian hate amid pandemic
A new character is featured in the Land of Sweets in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” this year: Green Tea Cricket, a springy, superherolike figure meant to counter stereotypes of Chinese culture.
Oklahoma’s Tulsa Ballet, hoping to dispel outdated portrayals of Asians, is infusing its production with elements of martial arts, choreographed by a Chinese-born dancer.
And Boston Ballet is staging a new spectacle: a pas de deux inspired by traditional Chinese ribbon dancing.
“The Nutcracker,” the classic holiday ballet, is back after the long pandemic shutdown. But many dance companies are reworking the show this year partly in response to a wave of anti-Asian hate that intensified during the pandemic, and a broader reckoning over racial discrimination.
“Everybody learned a lot this year, and I just want to make sure there’s absolutely nothing that could ever be considered as insulting to Chinese culture,” said Mikko Nissinen, artistic director of Boston Ballet, who choreographed the ribbon dance. “We look at everything through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. That’s the way of the future.”
Artistic leaders are jettisoning elements such as bamboo hats and pointy finger movements, which are often on display during the so-called Tea scene in the second act, when dancers perform a short routine introducing tea from China. (It’s one in a series of national dances, including Hot Chocolate from Spain and Coffee from Arabia.)
At least one company, Berlin State Ballet, has decided to forgo “The Nutcracker” entirely this year amid growing concern about racist portrayals of Asians. The company said in a statement that it was considering ways to “recontextualize” the ballet and would eventually bring it back.
The changes are the result of a yearslong effort by performers and activists to draw attention to Asian stereotypes in “The Nutcracker.” Some renowned groups — including New York City Ballet and The Royal Ballet in London — several years ago made adjustments to the Tea scene, eliminating elements such as Fu Manchu-type mustaches for male dancers.
The sharp rise in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, as well as a recent focus on the legacy of discrimination in dance, opera and classical music, have brought fresh urgency to the effort.
Performers and activists have called on cultural institutions to feature more prominently Asian singers, dancers, choreographers and composers. Some opera companies are reexamining staples of the repertoire such as “Madama Butterfly” and “Turandot,” which contain racist caricatures. Others, such as Boston Lyric Opera, are hosting public discussions of the works and their stereotypes.
“Folks are finally connecting the dots between the idea that what we put onstage actually has an impact on the people offstage,” said Phil Chan, an arts administrator and former dancer who has led the push to rethink “The Nutcracker.”
The stakes are high. For many ballet companies, “The Nutcracker” is the biggest show of the year — a financial lifeline that generates a large percentage of annual ticket sales.
Colorado Ballet staged “The Nutcracker” with new costumes, including in the Tea scene. The rainbow colors of a dragon that appears onstage were inspired by Asian street food.
Some companies are reworking the Tea scene entirely, believing more can be done to make it resonate with modern audiences.
Peter Boal, artistic director of Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, has been experimenting with ways to tone down Asian stereotypes in its productions of “The Nutcracker” since 2015. But as Boal saw the rise of anti-Asian hate this year, he set out to make further changes.
He had long wanted to add a cricket, a symbol of good luck in China, to “The Nutcracker.” He gained permission from the Balanchine Trust, which owns the rights to the version the company performs, just a few weeks ago.
During the visit to the Land of Sweets, the cricket now emerges from a box rolled onstage and performs a series of acrobatic moves, much like the choreography in the original, in which a man dressed in stereotypical Chinese clothes came out of the box.
“The importance of change really came home this year,” Boal said, noting the spread of anti-Asian hate. He said he wanted a production that was “in line with our sensibilities today and our respect for other people and audience members and the community.”
Dancers and choreographers of Asian descent say the revisions to “The Nutcracker” are long overdue.
Ma Cong, resident choreographer of Tulsa Ballet, said he was confused when he first saw “The Nutcracker” productions featuring exaggerated makeup and stereotypical costumes. Ma, who grew up in China, recalled thinking, “That is not Chinese.”
Tulsa Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” is choreographed by Ma and Val Caniparoli. For the Tea scene, Ma has incorporated elements of tai chi and classical Chinese dance.
Ma said the rise in anti-Asian violence and the spread of terms such as “China virus” had emboldened him to bring more elements of Chinese culture to the production.
“It’s one simple word: respect,” he said. “It’s truly important to have respect for all cultures, and to be as authentic as possible.”