“People are not stupid,” Roger Köppel, a former editor of Die Welt, a German newspaper, said in an email. The decision by the Berlin State Ballet to skip “Nutcracker” this year angered some cultural critics, who cited concerns about freedom of expression. “In 2021, not even ballet is safe from the P.C.

“In what way is it racist to portray a culture’s most recognizable attributes?” said a commentary about the new production, which aired in November on Russian state television.

“We ended up in a place where we can celebrate what we’re putting onstage rather than trying to defend it,” said Christopher Hampson, artistic director of the Scottish Ballet. The move to excise racist elements in dance has not been without controversy, especially in Europe. He has gathered about 1,000 signatures from dancers, choreographers, educators and administrators. In 2018, Chan began circulating a pledge titled “Final Bow for Yellowface,” which calls for eliminating outdated and offensive stereotypes in ballet. “Folks are finally connecting the dots between the idea that what we put onstage actually has an impact on the people offstage,” said Phil Chan, an arts administrator and former dancer who has led the push to rethink “The Nutcracker.” Others, such as Boston Lyric Opera, are hosting public discussions of the works and their stereotypes. Some opera companies are re-examining staples of the repertoire like “Madama Butterfly” and “Turandot,” which contain racist caricatures. Performers and activists have called on cultural institutions to feature more prominently Asian singers, dancers, choreographers and composers. The sharp rise in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, as well as a recent focus on the legacy of discrimination in dance, opera and classical music, have brought fresh urgency to the effort.

Lyric opera nutcracker 2021