Pay The Dancers!

Today, I was made aware of this video created by commercial dancers based in Australia, that have chosen to speak out about a particular high profile instance of 'low to no pay' work in order to create awareness for the endemic that is occurring within the dance industry. 

The video has huge relevance towards my inquiry as the issue of 'low to no pay' work is often excused by high profile clients as 'good exposure' or 'experience' on a set with celebrity artists. The celebrities are very often not to blame for this, as they play little part in recruitment, however the dancers are very much exploited by the employers themselves. 

The issue of ‘Enforcement,’ means that dancers feel unable to speak up and assert themselves due to a lack of confidence in their employment rights and the fear of insecurity during short-term contracts: ‘Across the economy many workers with minimum wage problems are often too scared to assert their rights.’ (Equity, 2013)

Empowerment when it comes to saying no to ‘low to no pay’ work is only likely to be obtained by the strength of union therefore our reliance on Equity to fight with the government for better enforcement of employment rights is imperative. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfippeabpAg

Equity UK, 2013. Work Not Play: The rise in Low Pay and No Pay work in the entertainment industries. (PDF) Available at: < http://www.equity.org.uk/documents/work-not-play-brochure/ > (Accessed 15 February 2014).