Like many long-time traditions, “The Nutcracker” has reached a 21st-Century reckoning. In recent years, the most popular and profitable ballet in history has come under public scrutiny for its stereotypical portrayal of various cultures. Lake Tahoe Dance Collective’s “Tahoe Nutcracker” made changes to its production in 2019 to update its character representations.
Asian-American ballerina Allison Walsh will play the Sugar Plum Fairy in the upcoming production. The New York City dancer whose mother emigrated from Hong Kong has witnessed a slow progress toward inclusion throughout her distinguished career.
“I’m the product of someone who was born in a colony,” says Walsh. “When I think about that second act, it does feel there is a tint of colonialism to it. It needs to change.”
The ballet was choreographed and composed in 1892 at the height of European Imperialism. As young Clara travels with The Nutcracker Prince to the enchanting Land of Sweets, she encounters dancers from Spain, Arabia, China and Russia. For generations, the presentation of these divertissements was based on misrepresentation.
“I just want people to know how excited I am to be a part of it. Seeing someone like me could shift your views about what’s possible.” –Allison Walsh
The Dance Collective consulted the Phil Chan of Final Bow for Yellowface, to help redesign their production. Instead of the traditional caricatures, the divertissements nows feature a Chinese lion that interacts with a solo female dancer in the variation.
Dance Collective artistic director Christin Hanna reworked the ballet to be more culturally responsive in 2019. Her 2020 virtual production premiered with African-American dancer Christopher McDaniel cast as the Nutcracker Prince with his doll head a shade of brown, reflective of his skin tone. Previously, McDaniel had done guest appearances all around the country and always wore a Caucasian mask.
It’s no secret ballet has long been attached to aesthetics that not every dancer could meet. While these may seem like small steps, they are reflective of an artform rooted in ritual that is beginning to embrace change.
“As a mixed-race person, I have mixed feelings about ballet and my experience in it,” says Walsh. “No one would ever say something explicitly like: ‘You look too Asian for this role.’ But what happens when directors are not used to seeing someone who looks like me in that role? I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was discriminated against, but the ballet world did not often allow for diversity as far as people who look different or move differently.”
Walsh believes more changes are in store for “The Nutcracker” if it hopes to maintain its magical, inspiring spirit in the modern world.
“Truly, why it is enduring is because it’s a ballet based on childhood joy,” she says. “I understand the appeal of trying to celebrate different cultures, but I don’t know if we need to do that anymore. It doesn’t have to be connected to any culture and it shouldn’t be. I think that will change as more artists of color take over companies. I know change is hard when it surrounds a tradition, but it is necessary.”
Walsh was a 9-year-old Party Boy No. 1 when she first performed “The Nutcracker” at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Since then, she’s danced almost every role, as a member of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and BalletX in Philadelphia, before going on to perform on Broadway in “An American in Paris” and on television in “Flesh and Bone.” While ballet continues to adapt along with our changing world, “The Nutcracker” will always hold a special place in her heart.
“I just want people to know how excited I am to be a part of it,” says Walsh. “Seeing someone like me could shift your views about what’s possible. It’s about childhood innocence and imagination and I think that’s why people connect to it. But that’s not a reason it doesn’t need to keep evolving and progressing as a piece of art. Because it is maybe the only time people experience ballet, I think it’s important to be having these conversations about the impacts of the portrayal of people and the stories it is telling.” | laketahoedancecollective.org
“TAHOE NUTCRACKER”
DEC. 17-19 | TIMES VARY
North Tahoe High School | Tahoe City
