Rajan Zed Urges West Australian Ballet to Drop ‘La Bayadère’ for Cultural Insensitivity
Hindu community leaders, including Rajan Zed, call for the cancellation of ‘La Bayadère’ ballet in Perth, citing cultural insensitivity and stereotyping in the portrayal of Eastern traditions.
WORLD DESK – Hindus are pressuring West Australian Ballet (WAB) to cancel the upcoming ‘La Bayadère’ ballet at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth.
Scheduled for April 12-20, 2024, the ballet is criticized for trivializing Eastern religious and cultural traditions.
Rajan Zed, a prominent Hindu statesman from Nevada, USA, has voiced his concerns.
Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, criticizes WAB for promoting cultural appropriation and stereotyping.
He describes ‘La Bayadère’ as demeaning and reflective of outdated 19th-century orientalist views.
Zed urges WAB to apologize and reconsider their choice of ballet, highlighting the maturity expected from Australia’s oldest ballet company.
Concerns include the ballet’s portrayal of Eastern heritage, fostering ethnic stereotypes, and cultural misrepresentation.
Zed calls for cultural sensitivity training for WAB and His Majesty’s Theatre executives.
The involvement of partners such as Singapore Airlines, City of Perth, and Woodside Energy is also questioned.
Australian and Western Australian government officials, including WA Governor General Chris Dawson and WA Premier Roger Cook, are urged to address the issue.
Hindus respect ballet as an art form but argue that ‘La Bayadère’, first staged in 1877, is outdated and inappropriate for modern audiences.
The ballet, a collaboration between WAB, Queensland Ballet, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, faces backlash for its cultural insensitivity.
