Hello everyone, my name is Tara Ghassemieh. As some of you may know, I have been recognized as the first Iranian-American principal ballerina. Throughout my career, I've been privileged to explore the power, beauty and grace ballet holds. However, I've also identified some significant blind spots within this art form we all know and love. One such blind spot is the portrayal of Middle Eastern culture in the "Arabian" dance in the production of The Nutcracker.

The 'Arabian' dance in The Nutcracker, is often staged using outdated stereotypes and orientalist portrayals that misrepresent the true richness of Middle Eastern culture. The reality we must confront is that there is a glaring lack of true Middle Eastern representation in ballet. Instead of being an accurate artistic celebration of Middle Eastern influences, the current portrayals borrow from Middle Eastern aesthetics but, unfortunately, do so inaccurately and impersonally.

We see oriental patterns, sounds, and motifs serving more as superficial decoration rather than genuine interaction with the culture's intricate traits and representations. It is disheartening to watch my culture with such deep historical artistry and values being reduced to a series of exotic stereotypes that do not echo its reality or depth.

Thus, I call upon ballet companies, directors, and choreographers worldwide to reimagine and redefine the 'Arabian' dance in your Nutcracker. This change would honor Middle Eastern culture appropriately, rather than distorting it through misrepresentation.

Several modern choreographers and companies are successfully integrating authentic cultural elements and modernizing classical scenes to be more inclusive and representative. We have seen this respectfully done worldwide with the Chinese, Russian, and Spanish dances of The Nutcracker, but why not Arabian? Isn't it time Middle eastern culture has a place in the ballet world?! We have the power to embrace this approach and foster genuine diversity that leads to more accurate and enriching ballet performances. 

Join me in urging these esteemed artists to take this step forward. Let us ensure ballet remains a canvas for truthful and respectful cultural narratives.

Please sign and share this petition. Help us reimagine the iconic Arabian dance with truth, respect, and hope for more Middle Eastern representation in ballet as a whole. The dancers across the Middle East — where ballet in most parts is illegal — deserve to see their culture depicted with authenticity and honor, not stereotypes. Together, we can create a ballet world that is more inclusive, more truthful, and more inspiring for generations to come.