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La Bayadère: Ballet's Orientalism Debate

This document summarizes and reflects on the ballet "La Bayadere". It discusses how the ballet, first presented in 1877, was a product of the popular "orientalism" movement in France at the time, which exoticized Asian cultures. While the ballet is notable for its beautiful dancing, it is also an example of the lingering orientalism and romanticization of the past that was prevalent in its time. The document examines how the ballet both engages audiences with its artistry but also raises issues through its cultural portrayals from another era.

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jamie marks
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68 views2 pages

La Bayadère: Ballet's Orientalism Debate

This document summarizes and reflects on the ballet "La Bayadere". It discusses how the ballet, first presented in 1877, was a product of the popular "orientalism" movement in France at the time, which exoticized Asian cultures. While the ballet is notable for its beautiful dancing, it is also an example of the lingering orientalism and romanticization of the past that was prevalent in its time. The document examines how the ballet both engages audiences with its artistry but also raises issues through its cultural portrayals from another era.

Uploaded by

jamie marks
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction

 State the piece selected and facts surrounding it


 Brief plot summary of la bayadere
Historical Context and Synthesis
 First presentation in 1877, contemporary with massive “orientalisme” movement
in Petipas’ home country of france, to this day the ballet is a notable example of
exoticizing the asian

My Opinions: like and dislike


 The lines and beauty of the movement
 The orientalist aspect
Conclusion
 Lingering orientalism and romanticization of the past

There are certain ballets that are produced perennially at a professional level,

among them Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle and others. These so-

called classics of ballet theatre continue to engage top companies the world over, but

what is the price of relying on aging source material? This reflection seeks to investigate

the oft-unexamined effect of continued faith in older works.

One such work is the quintessential late-19th century ballet La Bayadére (transl.

The Temple Dancer). This piece follows the tale of the titular temple dancer Nikiya and

her doomed romance with warrior Solor. Another more powerful man also admires

Nikiya, the High Brahmin,

What culture and society produced this story? At the time of the ballet’s first

presentation in 1877, the art world was fully immersed in a movement known as

“orientalisme” in Petipas’ home country of France, to this day the ballet is a notable

example of exoticizing the Asian

As a point of reference for investigation of this piece, this paper employs


In conclusion, this piece is the archetypal example of what is labeled in modern

parlance the “problematic fave”: a beloved piece of art that is also notable for its

incursions on what is considered politically correct.

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