Last year Scottish Ballet admitted its 50-year history 'includes outdated and racist artistic content'.Īn article published on Scottish Ballet's website last year stated: 'Classical ballet and access to elite training has included racism: proliferating racial stereotypes (The Nutcracker and Petrushka are just a couple of examples). 'And, following ongoing consultancy, the Chinese and Arabian-inspired divertissements in The Land of Sweets will have updated costumes and choreography to remove elements of caricature and better represent the culture and traditions which have inspired them.' 'The enigmatic Drosselmeyer will, in this tour, be played by both male and female dancers. 'To ensure it remains relevant today and for the future, we continue to make subtle, but important changes to some of the characters, costumes and choreography. 'In an ongoing process of discussion with company members and visiting guests, The Royal Ballet strives each season to make an inclusive environment for its performers and audiences.'Įarlier in November, the Scottish Ballet announced changes to characters, costumes and choreography would be made to scenes in The Land of the Sweets in The Nutcracker, which will feature a cast of 40 children.Īct two of the ballet represents different nationalities through the 'dances of the sweets', including Spanish 'Chocolate', Arabian 'Coffee' and Chinese 'Tea'.ĭrosselmeyer, the enigmatic toymaker and magician character in the 19th-century ballet, will be played by both male and female performers for the first time in the company's history.Īn official announcement earlier this month the Scottish Ballet said: 'The Nutcracker is a timeless festive story that has delighted audiences around the world for over a century.
'Kevin O'Hare, director of The Royal Ballet, is keen to ensure that the production elements are appropriate within the context of classical ballet. 'The Nutcracker is one of the most well-known ballets and is the perfect introduction for new audiences into this artform. Tuesday night's performance of The Nutcracker, the production's first, saw only two dancers perform the Arabian Dance after it was changed over fears it was 'offensive'Ī Royal Ballet spokesman said: 'The Royal Ballet regularly looks at the classic repertory to ensure these works remain fresh and as inclusive as possible to a broad audience.
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