As the controversy continues over Timothee Chalamet’s remark on the ballet and opera performing art forms not being relevant anymore, ballerinas or ballerino the world over reacted to the Hollywood actor’s condescending comment. Yana Lewis, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, The Lewis Foundation of Classical Ballet in Bengaluru, India, has also expressed disappointment at the Dune actor’s remark. In an exclusive conversation with LatestLY, Yana Lewis was speaking just before her specially choreographed ballet performances in Bengaluru on April 11-12, 2026. Here’s more about the shows and what Yana Lewis said on the ballet-opera row.

Who Is Yana Lewis and What Is Her Opinion on Timothee Chalamet?

Yana Lewis is a renowned ballerina and has performed the world over, including in England and India. She has choreographed for and featured in music videos of world-famous singers like Sir Elton John, Bryan Adams, Phil Collins, and Ray Parker Junior from Ghostbusters. Trained in classical ballet and Iyengar Yoga, Yana’s repertoire includes principal roles in ballet acts such as Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Swan Lake, and Peter and the Wolf. She has performed on BBC programmes, on The London Weekend Television, and staged a dance-a-thon for the Children in Need appeal. In south India, her choreography has been featured on channels such as Asianet, Udaya TV, Kairali TV, and at events and award ceremonies. Yana Lewis was honoured with the Shaurya Shakti Award for Arts and Culture in 2024, presented by the Jyoti Hope Foundation and Umesh Gopinath Jadhav Foundation.

We asked Yana Lewis about her opinion on Timothee Chalamet’s recent remarks on the relevance of the ballet and opera arts in today’s times. Yana Lewis said, “Ballet is a language of the heart. One must train their body and inner expression to connect beyond words, and Ballet has the power to do that. Watching an actor with a great deal of influence disregard artforms that have far-reaching impact has been disappointing. Comments like these, which are not thought through discredit the industry as a whole and the individuals who have dedicated their lives to it.” Doja Cat Confesses She Regrets Slamming Timothee Chalamet, Says She's Never Been Opera or Ballet Live.

Ballet is a language of the heart.

It is to be noted that Timothee Chalamet’s mother is a former ballerina and the actor himself performed in a ballet as a child. It seems his views on the dance form has changed over the years, as he excelled in acting. Timothee Chalamet’s Childhood Ballet Video Goes Viral Amid His ‘No One Cares’ Remark Backlash – Watch.

Yana Lewis Ballet Shows in Bengaluru: Dates, Venue and Tickets

Yana Lewis has announced her forthcoming production, A Tale of Dreams and Destinies, which will be staged on April 11 and 12, 2026, at the Prestige Centre for Performing Arts, Konanakunte Cross, Bengaluru. Choreographed by Yana Lewis, the act is inspired by a classic tale from One Thousand and One Nights. The ambitious ballet will be The Lewis Foundation’s seventh in-house production, bringing together over 180 senior ballet dancers from the institution and the National Youth Ballet, who will be seen in over 280 bespoke costumes throughout the performance. Interestingly, the costumes, props, accessories and scenography are inspired by haute couture runways on the one hand and Indian palaces, handlooms, textiles and bazaars on the other.

Please note: Yana Lewis’ team’s performance on Saturday, April 11 will be as part of The Lewis Foundation’s outreach programme for children from NGOs in Bengaluru, and will not be open to public. While on April 12, there will be open-to-public performances at 12:30 PM (matinee) and 5:30 PM (evening) IST. The tickets for the Yana Lewis show on April 12 are priced at INR 1,000 each, and are available on the official website of BookMyShow. The show is open to all age groups.

Yana Lewis's Ballet Show in Bengaluru - See Post:

Yana Lewis’ Journey in India

When Yana Lewis visited India for Yoga Guru BKS Iyengar’s 80th birthday in 1998, she fell in love with the country. Travelling across India, she explored classical Indian dance forms and saw similarities with ballet. She settled down in Bangalore in 1999, and co-founded The Lewis Foundation of Classical Ballet in 2006, with Devang Bhanushali.

The Foundation now has over 1,000 students. Yana Lewis choreographs, directs and produces biennial shows consisting of her students. Their major ballet productions include The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Oz – The Ballet, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and the Beast, and Alice. The Foundation has also collaborated with the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) to present A Ballet Soirée and Mosaics of Motion.

The comment by Timothee Chalamet on ballet and opera has served as a reminder of the beauty of the art forms, and infused renewed interest in them, with new shows being announced.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2026 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).