CHANDIGARH, 10.11.26-Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that The Tokyo Ballet, which reportedly receives grants from Japan Government and claims to be “one of the world’s leading dance companies”, should not be in the business of callously promoting appropriation of traditions, elements and concepts of “others”; and ridiculing entire communities.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that this deeply problematic ballet was just a blatant belittling of a rich civilization and exhibited 19th-century orientalist attitudes. He also urged The Tokyo Ballet to apologize for such an inappropriate offering.
The Tokyo Ballet should have shown some maturity before blessing a ballet like “La Bayadère” (The Temple Dancer), displaying Western caricaturing of Eastern heritage and abetting ethnic stereotyping; Rajan Zed noted.
It was highly irresponsible for an establishment like The Tokyo Ballet to allow such a ballet which had been blamed for patronizing flawed mishmash of orientalist stereotypes, dehumanizing cultural portrayal and misrepresentation, offensive and degrading elements, needless appropriation of cultural motifs, essentialism, shallow exoticism, caricaturing, etc. The Tokyo Ballet could do better than this to serve its diverse stakeholders; Zed stated.
Cultural insensitivity should never be disguised as artistic freedom. Artistic excellence demands accountability, cultural responsibility, dignity and respect—not the recycling of colonial-era stereotypes. The Tokyo Ballet must stop treating Hindu heritage as expendable theatrical decoration and recognize that artistic brilliance cannot excuse cultural disrespect. Enough is enough; “La Bayadère” belongs in the history books, not on the contemporary world stage; Rajan Zed insists.
Zed suggested Yukari Saito and Shiori Sano, Director and Artistic Director respectively of The Tokyo Ballet, to re-evaluate its systems and procedures and send its staff for cultural sensitivity training so that such inappropriate stuff did not slip through in the future.
Rajan Zed also urged Japan Government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and Commissioner for Cultural Affairs ITŌ Gakuji to stop all grants/subsidies to both The Tokyo Ballet and Japan Performing Arts Foundation, if they continued with their plan of showcasing “La Bayadère” in July 2027.
Like many others, Hindus also consider ballet as one of the revered art forms which offers richness and depth. But we are well into 21st century now, and outdated “La Bayadère”, which was first presented in St. Petersburg (Russia) in 1877, is long overdue for permanent retirement from the world stage; Zed points out.
The 36 international tours of The Tokyo Ballet, founded 1964, included “799 performances in 158 cities across 33 countries”. With Shoei Utsuda as Chairman; Japan Performing Arts Foundation (NBS), founded in 1981 to “contribute to the cultural development and enhancement of the arts in Japan”, manages The Tokyo Ballet.