The San Francisco Ballet, one of the most revered cultural institutions in the country, has found itself in the eye of a political storm. It’s a stark reminder that in today’s climate, even the most classical and seemingly apolitical art forms can become lightning rods for controversy.
The recent program that sparked this firestorm wasn’t intended as a political manifesto. Ballet, at its core, is about movement, emotion, and storytelling through the body. Yet, the choice of themes, choreographers, or even the historical context of a piece can be interpreted through a political lens. Whether it’s a narrative exploring identity, a piece commissioned from an artist with certain views, or simply the company’s broader stance on social issues, the line between art and advocacy is thinner than ever.
This isn’t inherently bad. Art has always been a reflection of its time, and ballet has evolved to include contemporary voices and urgent themes. The problem arises when the conversation shifts from the artistic merit of the work to a binary political shouting match. When audiences arrive with placards instead of open minds, the art itself risks being drowned out.
For the San Francisco Ballet, this presents a profound challenge. How does an institution honor its tradition while engaging with the present? How does it stay true to its artistic vision without being instrumentalized by external agendas? There’s no easy answer. Censorship or retreating into a purely “neutral” classical repertoire is not the solution—it’s an abdication of art’s power to provoke and inspire.
Perhaps the real takeaway here is about the space we create for art. Can we allow a ballet to be complex? Can we appreciate the technique and the storytelling without demanding it align perfectly with our personal worldview? The stage should be a place for exploration, not a battleground for pre-existing conflicts.
The SF Ballet’s dance is no longer just on the stage; it’s in navigating this turbulent cultural moment. Their next steps will be watched closely. Let’s hope they—and we as an audience—remember that sometimes, the most powerful statement art can make is simply to exist, beautifully and defiantly, asking questions rather than picking sides. The pointe shoe, it seems, is now standing on very pointed ground.
