CMU School of Drama


Wednesday, March 01, 2023

Wage Transparency Laws—What They Mean for the Dance Industry

www.dancemagazine.com: It’s an all-too-familiar experience for freelance dancers.­ “You go for these auditions, and you think it’s a big oppor­tunity,” says BRAT, a New York City–based dancer who founded the #FreelanceDoesNotEqualFreeDance social media campaign and has performed in a variety of music videos and at events like the MTV Video Music Awards and the U.S. Open. “And then after you’ve already gotten the gig, they’re like, ‘Oh, we don’t have rehearsal pay.’ ”

1 comment:

John Alexander Farrell said...

The article recognizes that wage transparency can be a powerful tool to address inequities and improve working conditions in the dance industry. The author argues that knowing what colleagues are being paid can help dancers negotiate better salaries and hold employers accountable for fair compensation– something unfortunately very much needed. However, the article also acknowledges that wage transparency is not a simple solution and that there are challenges to implementing it. Some employers may resist sharing information about salaries, and the information could lead to tension and competition among dancers.

Reflecting on this issue, I recognize the importance of balancing the benefits of wage transparency with the potential challenges. It emphasizes the need for open and honest conversations about salaries and working conditions in the dance industry. It highlights the potential benefits and challenges of this approach and encourages a thoughtful and collaborative approach to addressing issues of pay equity in dance.