#MusicVideoContract Petition

Whilst researching literature and developing my line of inquiry, I have come across a petition launched by the recent campaign 'It's Up To Us,' by Dancers United UK. This is something I want to make other dancers aware of, so I thought I would post the link to sign the petition below. BAPP dancers, please read the excerpt below and follow the link to sign you're name and show you're support for the campaign!

"Dancers United UK and Equity have launched the #MusicVideoContract campaign. The aim of the campaign is to re-negotiate the current BPI contract for music videos. The initial contract was drafted in 1988 and updated in 1998 but has not been revisited since.

As Equity members, DUUK have access to all existing contracts and agreements for TV, Film, Commercials and more. They discovered the BPI contract for music videos and noticed how out of date it was, not to mention the fact that no one was aware this said contract even existed.

Following the success of the #ItsUpToUs campaign, DUUK are recruiting dancers to get involved with the current campaign by signing the #MusicVideoContract petition. They have set a target number of 1000 signatures to initiate the re-negotiation of the BPI contract. "

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-dancers-united-uk-and-equity-musicvideocontract-petition

What is Commercial Dance?

I am often asked this question, and it is something that I feel I need to find a comprehensive answer to! My inquiry is going to focus on the workplace of the professional commercial dancer, so I therefore need to be able to define what this genre is?

The truth is that it is an constantly changing, expansive genre, involving all kinds of media. You need to be diverse and up-to-date with the most current styles of dance to be able to work as a commercial dancer. This paragraph gives a great description of what many would consider it to be:

"Commercial refers to dancing done in concerts, live shows, music videos, movies, industrials, and, obviously, commercials. There are many different styles of dance that can be worked into the commercial category, such as hip hop, jazz, locking, popping, breakdancing, krumping, and more. Sometimes, you'll find ballet and ballroom thrown into the mix, although "street dance" is more common. Generally speaking, commercial dance is super sexy and super entertaining."  (Valiente, M. 2011)

I hope that this is helpful to those who are unsure as to what I mean when I refer to commercial dance! You do not need to be professionally trained to work as a commercial dancer, however many dancers have undergone some sort of formal training because of the various techniques and styles, and high level of performance it involves.

http://www.wetpaint.com/so-you-think-you-can-dance/articles/so-you-think-you-can-dance-101-what-is-commercial-style

Why It's Up To Us

This is a video created by choreographers and dancers working within the commercial dance industry underlining why 'It's Up To Us' to create a better working environment as dancers. They talk about how rates of pay and conditions of work have changed for  commercial dancers, especially during the economic downturn. The issues are highlighted as well as the reasons that dancers should expect to receive certain standards in the workplace and why they should respect themselves as professional working individuals.

I am so interested to hear the outlook of other performers on this viewpoint? What is your opinion? Do you think that dancers should be expected to work for free to build a portfolio of work and do what they love? Or do you think that setting yourself a standard of pay demands more respect from others as a professional individual?

http://www.dancersuniteduk.com/media/

Return to Study!

So finally I am returning to study after a VERY long interruption.  I have dedicated almost five years to my profession as a dancer and performer, and I feel I have a lot more to say now than I did when I first began the course!

Having had to change my research inquiry due it no longer being relevant or even accessible to me, I have now decided to focus my inquiry onto a topic that I feel passionately about and one that many performers may be able to relate to!

" Should professionally trained dancers within the commercial dance industry work for free?"

I want to focus on the commercial dance industry as the majority of my work as a performer lies in this area. I am so interested to find out the circumstances under which a professional dancer might choose to work for free? Having made the decision personally to never do so myself, I would like to find out what impact this may have on others working within the same industry? Are there standards of pay a professional dancer should expect in the workplace? Are there any official campaigns working to improve these standards?

These are my initial thoughts on the process... I am now researching literature and any available ideas that will help guide my thoughts and shape my inquiry!