Banishing Orientalism: Dancing between Exotic and Familiar

Opium dreams, nodding geishas, feisty harem slavegirls, seductive temple dancers. . . .Performances on the great European stages often depicted "exotic" peoples, places, and plots, expanding the European imagination and providing innovation in opera and classical ballet. The outdated portrayals in traditional masterpieces no longer work for diverse contemporary audiences, and yet canceling them is not a good answer. In Banishing Orientalism, Phil Chan shows us that applying a dash of creativity improves cultural representation and eliminates cultural appropriation—allowing us to lovingly shepherd these works into the 21st century for diverse audiences.Advance Praise "Through a thoughtful examination of ballet history, peppered with touching personal anecdotes, witty humor and candid--but never judgmental--observations, Chan provides a look at how classical ballets that have historically relied on Orientalism can be reimagined beyond harmful tropes. Banishing Orientalism is a glimpse into a more equitable future for the quickly diversifying world of ballet, making this an essential read for anyone invested in the art form." - Pointe Magazine"This work has been game changing and enlightening for the ballet world." - Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre"The ballet world is perennially anxious about its future, its relevance, and its ability to gain funding and new, younger audiences, and yet, our most frequently danced works perpetuate harmful, wrong--and downright ridiculous--stereotypes. In his eye-opening second book, Phil Chan deftly guides us through how these outdated tropes came to be. Do beloved works need to be cancelled? What about all the beautiful music and dancing? Chan proposes ways today's most creative companies can keep the best from our history while finding new and exciting ways to tell stories--in the process, taking art for 'all of us'" - The Philadelphia Inquirer Read more