After protesting Hindus urged Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera to drop its upcoming presentation of “La Bayadère” ballet, calling it “culturally insensitive”; they have been ensured by Polish National Ballet of avoiding stereotyping.
Polish National Ballet director Krzysztof Pastor, in emails to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest; wrote: We are committed to ensuring that our presentation of La Bayadère avoids stereotypes, respects cultural diversity, and does not give rise to any misinterpretation that could be hurtful or disrespectful.
Pastor also wrote: … we treat matters of cultural sensitivity and the responsible presentation of the heritage of other traditions with the utmost seriousness…we fully understand the importance of approaching works that reference other cultures with respect, awareness, and responsibility…Your message has strengthened our resolve to prepare these performances with even greater attention to detail, sensitivity, and artistic responsibility.
As Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also asked that outdated “La Bayadère” was long overdue for permanent retirement from the world stage; Pastor wrote: …upcoming run consists of the last performances of this ballet currently scheduled at our theatre…Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera and the Polish National Ballet have no plans to present La Bayadère again after the conclusion of the current series of performances.
Krzysztof Pastor also indicated: The Polish nation, with its long and difficult history, is itself extremely sensitive to any unfair or inaccurate cultural and historical portrayals.
Rajan Zed had earlier expressed that Hindus felt that “La Bayadère” ballet seriously trivialized Eastern religious and other traditions. This deeply problematic ballet was just a blatant belittling of a rich civilization and exhibited 19th-century orientalist attitudes. Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera 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.
It was highly irresponsible for an establishment like Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera 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. Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera could do better than this to serve its diverse stakeholders; Zed had stated.
Rajan Zed had suggested Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera General Director Boris Kudlička and Music Director Patrick Fournillier; Polish National Ballet Director Krzysztof Pastor and Manager for Programming/Organization Paweł Chynowski; and other related managers to re-evaluate the systems and procedures and send its staff for cultural sensitivity training so that such inappropriate stuff did not slip through in the future.
Like many others, Hindus also consider ballet as one of the revered art forms which offers richness and depth, Rajan Zed had pointed out
Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera describes this production of “La Bayadère” (Choreographer Natalia Makarova, Conductor Alexei Baklan, organized by Polish National Ballet) as a “deeply moving” and “romantic show” and “A beautiful Hindu tale of love and its power to transcend death”. This three-hours long ballet with two intermissions, will be shown for 11 days between March 27-June 30, 2026; and its many shows are already “Sold Out”.
Source: World Hindu News
