I saw the most amazing thing last weekend. At the San Francisco Ballet’s Giselle at the War Memorial Opera House on a rainy evening a few days ago, I saw the Shanghai-born ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan dance the lead romantic ballerina part of Giselle who falls in love with the a prince.
Let me tell you why this is so momentous for me. Since I first watched the Nutcracker ballet when I was 7…I have been an avid ballet fan. I have watched hundreds of ballets; the last 3 years I spent in New York City was spent, during the ballet season, going to see the ballet 1-3 times a week (Grad school? What grad school?). The few Asian dancers on stage always danced like this or looked like this… or at the very least, in the back, holding roses and waving them back and forth. I had never seen Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Juliet or Giselle danced by an Asian ballerina.
Racial discrimination has been surmised by many in the ballet world, but because it’s such a closed system, it’s difficult to see exactly what the directors think or ballet dancers are told in private when they are hired in a company. This New York Times article “Where are all the black swans?” discusses the absence of African-American dancers in ballet companies; but as an Asian-American audience member, it makes me think, “Where are the dancers that look like me?” Especially in the New York City companies (NYC Ballet & ABT), there has never been an Asian ballerina in the highest rank of the company, the rank of principal. The ballet world is really difficult, I do understand…but it’s hard to think that there hasn’t even been one Asian to make the rank of principal. Masahiro Suehara, a male Japanese ballet student at the School of American Ballet who showed amazing talent and promise, pronounced “soloist material” by the company director, was not given a job by that said director because he said Suehara was too short. Coincidence? It’s all speculation, I guess. But come on, ballet directors, there are a lot of great Asian dancers… give us a chance!
With my move to San Francisco, I was excited to see such talent, youth, and diversity at my “local” ballet company, in stark comparison to the companies in NYC. Yuan Yuan Tan is considered the “star” of the SF Ballet, along with some Asian dancers with exciting, up-and-coming talent in the company as well. Some of my personal favorites as Frances Chung, and Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun.
And seeing an Asian ballerina dance as the romantic female lead was definitely a first for me, and I loved it. Tan’s “mother” was not Asian, and Albrecht, the prince, was not Asian… but nothing looked “odd” or “weird” because the dancing was divine. I do hope this is what ballet looks like in the future, racially diverse and ultimately… what should matter most is dancing ability. I hope and expect to see more Asian ballet dancers on stage, who in turn can inspire young Asian ballet students to dream big.
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Bo wrote:
The dynamic you describe seems very similar to the dynamics found in orchestras back before blind auditions were institutionalized in the 60s and 70s. Prior to the introduction of blind auditions (screens are used to mask the identity of the musician) most orchestras were heavily male. Within 2-3 seasons of blind auditions most symphonies and orchestras were 50-50 male and female.
Now…if we could figure out a way to institute blind auditions in the dance world.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 8:05 am | Permalink
Obi wrote:
I was reading of an interview with one English Ballerina, Darcey Bussell, who at 5′10″ had difficulties finding a dance partner who could lift her. It seems to be the case with women I have known who also became too tall to dance.
I know of at least one company that performs Swan Lake with an all male dancers.
Might be an answer, but it might take a while before you get a good coterie of Asian Swans.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 8:22 am | Permalink
ancient one wrote:
Ballet San Jose has many Asian dancers, both male and female,(http://www.balletsanjose.org/dancers/group.htm), and I am glad that my daughter got to see them in the Nutcracker. Run by Dennis Nahat (he was in the Turning Point movie, btw), this company apparently doesn’t have lame excuses like Asian dancers are too short.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 9:00 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
When I first read this post, I was like, “Huh, there aren’t ANY Asian ballerinas in Principal roles?” Particularly because I recall countless press releases from the National Ballet of Canada announcing new additions to their principal roster which INCLUDED and even outright publicized ballerinas of Asian descent.
From what I understand, Stephanie Kim was a principal dancer in Southern California’s Youth Ballet Co., before she went to Korea to become a popstar in CSJH The Grace. (The reason why she left the ballet world was because she liked food too much and wanted to be able to eat what she wanted, whenever she wanted.)
Just checking the National Ballet of Canada’s website, there are currently 2 principals of Asian decent, one has been principal since 1994, the other since 2001. There is even a male ballet dancer of Asian descent among the first soloists - rowr.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 9:16 am | Permalink
RayU wrote:
http://www.uselessgraphics.com/music%20videos/butterflyballet.htm
Okay, not traditional ‘Western’ style ballet, but still… mighty impressive.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 10:07 am | Permalink
Julie wrote:
I saw ABT perform Sleeping Beauty in Los Angeles last year, and one of the fairies was definitely Asian. She did a standout job, and the audience loved her. I don’t have my program in front of me but I’m guessing on the ABT website she’s listed among the corps de ballet, which is surprising since a fairy is a very important role. That tells me if we can’t be principals at least we’re still getting the good roles. I guess it’s a start?
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 10:12 am | Permalink
Jen wrote:
thanks everyone for your comments!
Bo: Unfortunately, since ballet dancers are much based on how they look and are fully displayed on stage (as opposed to being in an orchestra pit or at the very least, wearing tuxes/dress clothing that’s more “covered” than ballerina tutus) “blinded” auditions are not a luxury dancers will have during their auditions. Great idea though
Obi and Ancient One: I know the Ballet San jose is definitely up and coming! They got amazing reviews for their latest production of Swan Lake a week or so ago. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is really popular (with the male swans), but frankly, I saw the DVD and when you get past the novelty of the male swans, I thought the choreography was a bit boring. And with Darcey Bussell…who says the prince has to be taller than the girl? I think it’s a bit insulting to assume that audiences want dancers to look a certain way… http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/arts/dance/14larocco.html explores the height of tthe male dancers…interesting article. I think if the dancing is good, audiences are pretty open to how people “look” (height-wise, ethnicity-wise), more than ballet directors may expect.
Xxxtine: National Ballet of Canada is definitely coming to SF in a few months! I can’t wait to see them. I was speaking to Asian principal dancers never being in the two NYC ballet companies, ABT & NYCB…really sad, as they are HUGE ballet institutions in American dance history. Boston Ballet has a few Asian principals too…but again, in my mind, the top three ballet companies in the U.S. (totally subjective, of course) are ABT, NYCB, and SF Ballet. Only SF Ballet has Asian principal dancers (woohoo!)
Julie: I saw ABT’s Sleeping Beauty 3-4 times…You probably saw Yuriko Kajiya as the Canary Fairy (was she in yellow?) She was just recently promoted to soloist. I have my fingers crossed for Stella Abrera, a well established soloist at ABT…I think she has the best shot at being the first Asian American principal at ABT…who knows, though, she’s been a soloist forever. It’s a long shot but worth hoping for.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 10:40 am | Permalink
John wrote:
Well, if there is a lack of Asian-American female ballet dancers, I can’t even imagine how many Asian-American male ballet dancers there are… I could see Asian-American parents allowing their daughters to pursue dancing, but not their sons…
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 11:24 am | Permalink
jolene wrote:
John, there are certainly Asian male dancers, but since height and the “princely” look are often prized in the Western style of ballet, I think it’s difficult. Hansuke Yamamoto is an example of an SF Ballet soloist (not a principal, but close). Alex Wong of the Miami City Ballet is another impressive example. Not many come to mind though.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 11:41 am | Permalink
Grace Chu wrote:
I could see Asian-American parents allowing their daughters to pursue dancing
…as long as they promise to take pre-med courses on the side and take the MCATS as a back-up.
Posted on 05-Mar-08 at 7:17 pm | Permalink
Jason Akira Jhung wrote:
I believe the first, Male, Asian-American Principal Ballet Dancer was my father, Finis Jhung. He was a Principal with the Harkness Company. He also danced for the Joffrey Company and San Francisco Ballet. Not sure how to check the validity of this, but I believe it is true. Props to my Dad!
Posted on 08-May-08 at 10:21 am | Permalink
Jen wrote:
Finis Jhung is a true ballet hero, he has continued to inspire dancers today, with his unique approach to teaching.
thanks for visiting!
Posted on 08-May-08 at 12:07 pm | Permalink