Hindus Seek Apology From London Royal Opera House For Hosting Culturally Insensitive Ballet

Hindus are seeking apology from London's Royal Opera House (ROH) for hosting "La Bayadère" ballet, which, they said, reportedly trivialized Eastern religious traditions.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that publicly funded Royal Opera House should not be in the business of callously promoting appropriation of traditions, elements and concepts of "others".

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that this problematic ballet was just a blatant belittling of a rich civilization and exhibited 19th-century orientalist attitudes.

The "magnificent" Royal Opera House, which "aims to enrich people's lives through opera and ballet" with The Prince of Wales as Patron, should have shown some maturity before presenting a ballet displaying Western caricaturing of Eastern heritage and abetting ethnic stereotyping, Rajan Zed noted.

Zed urged ROH Chief Executive Alex Beard and Board of Trustees Chair Ian Taylor to re-evaluate ROH systems and procedures so that such an inappropriate stuff did not slip through in the future.

"La Bayadère" was on the Main Stage of ROH from November one to 17. "Natalia Makarova's production of this 19th-century classic ballet brings an exotic world of temple dancers and noble warriors to life", ROH website stated.