Ballet West Redoes A Problematic Part Of 'The Nutcracker.'

We caught up with the dancers, makeup artists, and administrators at Ballet West to see how they are updating "The Nutcracker's" Tea Dance.

[@pchk7421]

It totally makes sense to incorporate the annual Dragon/Lion dance from the Lunar/Chinese New Year into The Nutcracker's Act II Tea Scene/Chinese Dance. Also, updating the makeup from the traditional warrior mask/make-up symbology from Chinese opera (and Japanese Kabuki theater) traditions was a brilliant solution.

[@tara7967]

Please bring this version to Chicago❤

[@tara7967]

U also need to put a wheelchair part in.

[@stephaniesaxon973]

Loved this company's version. Saw them last year at the Kennedy Center.

[@omgimsocoolwow]

They changed the servants as monkeys to attendants as lemurs. guess why? (also I was in ballet wests nutcracker in Utah as a soldier twice!)

[@danavila04]

I love it!!!

[@KittyKatt_Luna80s]

This looks so pretty! :-)

[@wowwow8104]

I do want to join this company someday. Do you recruit from university of Utah?

[@hoangha9090]

Who would of thought that Ballet West is so woke.

[@hoangha9090]

@dennytenny According to the clip, the original Nutcracker was developed and choreographed by one of the Christensen brothers, William. His brother, Lou, created and developed his own version of the Nutcracker for the SF Ballet to perform. This version is what Ballet West is doing. How is that a "rewrite to our sacred traditions" or is this not "religiously followed for all of eternity".

[@pchk7421]

@Hoang Ha I think this is a case of @dennytenny tripping up through his attempts at sarcasm. But I'm not entirely sure. The giveaway is that dt actually suggested that American culture is older and more complex than Chinese culture. LOL--eye roll.

[@janat2659]

You would be surprised. Salt Lake City is VERY liberal considering it's in Utah.

[@kathymyers7279]

WOKE? WHO WOULD THINK THEY WERE DUCH MORONS WITH NO BALLS? YOUR A MORON.

[@echohu2873]

@dennytenny I would think you're being sarcastic. But, quite eye-opening when you say American culture is older lol (do your research eon history) and quoted Dolce Gabana ad given that was pretty much racist

[@Bezanie]

Usually I roll my eyes at Woke stuff. But since every ballet is different, it's not a bad idea to change scenes to make them look nice. And they're using an idea that was made many years ago. So I don't consider it Woke. Just as long as they honour what the dance is about, and not completely change it to something else, that has nothing to do with the story.

[@aminestoisthebesto806]

Das racis

[@paulx2777]

In normal times I would just have reacted, saying, "Sure, why not, that's what artistic license is all about". But these days, I am just tired of anything that gives a whiff of this smug holier-than-thou narrative. It's annoying.

[@barrycrump6189]

Woke alert! If you find the original concept to be offensive then perhaps you should stage a drag act instead?