Act II: George Li, Gloria Vauges, and Janice Mitoff in the Chinese Dance (Tea)

Photo by Frederick Melton, c. 1954

Gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 in.

Although there is no denying that George Balanchine’s The NutcrackerⓇ is a beloved holiday tradition, it must also be acknowledged that it has been at the epicenter of debate over depictions of race in ballet in recent years. The second act of the ballet, which is a fantastical trip around the world, is replete with generalizations and stereotypes of indigenous cultures. In particular, the Chinese Tea Dance has been criticized for the persistence of yellowface performance. In this image, the troubling makeup and moustache on dancer George Li is quite evident, and in the pointed fingers there is an indication of why the choreography is problematic. The nonprofit Final Bow for Yellow Face, cofounded by dancers Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcoguin, has given this issue an international platform and has also provided practical choreographic solutions to ballets looking to retain tradition in an inclusive way.