We have some of the best dancers in the world here in Australia!! BUT they aren’t getting payed to even live right!
We have some of the best creators and artists working their butts off and loving it but they can’t live like this for ever. We can’t live like this forever! It’s the new generation! Dance is recognised now and famous to the youth just as much as football. Trust me I’m touring Australia as we speak, touring into dance schools and communities (I’m in Tennant Creek working with the youth out here to get them up on stage to perform at the Desert Harmony Festival, big job). We are athlete’s! it takes a decade of dancing everyday to become a professional to start making money! Intense training, investment into dance classes, study, oversea’s trips to get better training(injuries pulling you back). I’ve done 4 trips and spent over $10,000 every time.
I make my money through teaching but teaching and not performing is killing my soul. As much as I love giving, I can’t afford to be doing it all my life at this extreme. I need to perform, I need to dance full out before my body can’t do it anymore. I loose my athleticism from teaching because it’s draining doing the same movements over and over! I could be 10 times more amazing!
If dancers were paid like Lawyers and Doctors…..Wow Imagine the arts level in Australia??
We are doctors of our own kind, with more then 4-8 years training at Uni and we get paid just $10,000 a year to actually entertain(the best part) and to earn that we are entertaining the Lawyers/ Doctors child to keep them from seeing the Doctor or Lawyer. We can’t get loans because we are self employed and don’t have full time job’s because there isn’t enough job’s? When in fact we are working full time just not being payed on someone’s pay roll(”Lamb’s over looked my shoulder and added”).
I feel it’s because of this tall poppy disease running around in Australia?
I feel the stereo type footballer Australian hating on me because I dance (”your a poofter if you dance”…..?). But aren’t they the one’s running around in hot pants tackling other men? I’m the one dancing with the ladies everyday of my life rocking out top moves and have pashed some of the hottest women I have ever seen? Including my adorable princess Nicole Lamb that I’m with now struggling to travel to the next destination to inspire youth to grow and not think like the stereo typed Aussy! We are Aussy, we love to dance and we are the future to having a free mind and doing what you love!
Now if it were supported more in Australia we would have a healthier country and open country and a country full of happiness! movement Creates happiness!!!
MTV, SONY, Aria Awards ect I get offered gig’s from you to make other artists like Britney Spears, Fergie and Dizzy Rascal to name few look good and yet I’m offered to do it for free? I love what I do! This is all I do, this is all i know! I love it alright! But if you want me to make your artists look good, look after us and we will rock that gig more then you will ever know. So they turn us down because we ask to get paid more then $0-$250.00 for over 20 hours of rehearsal and rocking a performance of the artist they are making money out of? Then you know what they do is get the other dancers that are up and coming and are frothing to get that spot to put on their CV!
This is not how it should be! I just choreographed a major Australian artists last film clip, where not much dancing was used. BUT not one of the extra’s were paid! This happens to professional dancers in film clips, It’s an “experience”. This was an experience most of those people will never do again, for all the hours getting bossed around and treated like shit. I’m heated about this as a new generation child coming up as a major artist for this country! I could have left off to USA and stayed an had a great career, but I’m choosing to stay and support and make Australia grow in the arts! Our new generation here is really full of talent, your sons, daughters, little cousins, nephew’s and nieces could be a real star and your stopping them due to your opinion or the governments?
Deal with my spelling, you know what I’m getting at! My passion took over my english ok! haha
Pretty good whinge I think haha COP IT
THIS IS AN ISSUE! I’ll BATTLE YOUR OPINION!
WATCH THIS VIDEO, IT HELPS BUT IT’s HALF CLOSE TO THE REAL WORLD OF A DANCER!
THIS ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED AT UTOPIAN DREAM 2011 www.utopiandream.com.au
LOVE & LIGHT
Travers Ross
Trav,
I read your post and I can feel your frustration. At your age, I too struggled with the realisation that my art (surfing), a career that I had put 15 years into developing my skills and unique style, was not going to pay the bills and support my future lifestyle. Like dancers, there are literally thousands of surfer kids in Oz that have the natural ability and drive to be stars on the world stage, but will never get the opportunity due to underfunding. Only a select few, with the right exposure, management and sponsorships will achieve greatness and a deserving income. But they will still hit the ocean every day regardless.
I believe the next generation of dancers will have more opportunities as the emerging styles of dance become the accepted norm. How many eisteddfods in the 80’s featured Hip Hop compared to today? These styles are growing in popularity as the traditional ballet and contemporary sections shrink. It is up to your generation to pave the path for the stars of tommorrow to make a decent living, even if it means you will struggle to perform for a profit today. Have you thought about creating a dancers union and managing the talent that you have found on your travels?
Is there such a thing as a union body for dance? If not not maybe there should be. There should be someone who can enforce that all proffessional dancers are treated fairly with regards to pay, and in particular should always be paid for any work they do. Have you ever heard of a doctor giving 20 hours free advice? Fat chance!!
So fair pay either needs to become compulsory or dancers themselves must demand that they won’t work without fair pay. If everyone said no to free work then the employers would be forced to pay. The people absolutely raking in the profits are the venue owners, the lighting crew, the sound crew, the venue staff, everyone but the artists on stage! So Im sure the employers can afford to pay better and not have to increase ticket prices, they just dont want to because getting away with it. STOP THIS INSANE SITUATION BY SAYING NO TO FREE WORK!
Hey bro just read your write up on here.. Im being honest when i say this.. It brang tears to my eyes man, im 100% with ya on it!
The bullshit we all go through just to get a gig on a film clip is crazy and even more crazy not gettin paid like you said. Gettin this gig with Cirque Du Soleil has opened my eyes to how amazing australian dancers/artists are.. like wow bro we are just as dope! And i am proud to be reppin for Aus here in Vegas
Its a hard world but we do not just because its what we do.. Its who we are, its not a choice its a way of life!
Keep doin what your doin.. like i said, im with ya! Im all for pushing to make Aus dance the real deal.
Big Love and thanks again for everything
Cj
Australia…SAY NO TO FREE GIGS!! We need to stop devaluing our craft!!! Warning:The next person who asks me to do a free gig could possibly get a back hand!!We spend soo much time and money training, all for what???? Models (who just stand there n look pretty) in music videos make more money than dancers (who have killed themselves in rehearsals).Such nonsense, and yes about damn time someone said something about it!!
OATSSS HARD OUT I HEAR YA…ITS THE TRUTH AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME> PEACE LOVE HD
I just said NO to a music video the other day. I was offered a ‘feed’ for me and my dancers. It’s insulting. Trust me, as a young dancer I learnt the hard way getting stuff on my cv, its hard to look at the bigger picture and the damage this causes to your industry when you are busting your ass for a gig.
I cant count how many times I’ve watched tv crews ask breakdancers to do tricks over and over again with no respect for how damn long those tricks take, the physical stamina, skill and endurance they are giving not to mention the risk of injury…..same for any dance style really…..oh but hang on, that’s right, silly me, they are getting paid a sausage sandwich and a can of coke…..and they are on a ‘cool’ music video…they should feel privileged?!! Thanks for the article Trav…..its a topic many people avoid xx
although its an easy solution to say that all dancers should just stop doing free gigs, we have to face the actuality that there will always be people who will do it for free. Especially with so many young dancers who do need/want to get some stuff on their resume.. the idea of a dancer’s union is good - i definitely think we have to form something that can fix this. Maybe even to be addressed before Utopian ‘11.
x
My company was the one that conducted the study mentioned on the 7:30 report. I spoke with countless artists of all varieties for hours on end and the situation was pretty bleak.
We went into heaps of details in the income section relating to the break down of how much of their gross was from creative practice and how much from what usually turned out to be shitty side jobs. Also looked into expenses from creative practice. It was sad to see most artists spending way way more than they were making just to try and get their name out there.
What was worse was how many artists i spoke with who had just given up after years of battling financially.
Its good to see that once it was finally published it at least got some air time and this problem was made public. I’m hoping that a lot of Aussies saw it because it was on right after Tony Abbott.
200% with you!
If we don’t do anything bout it now the future of dance for us youngens is fucked. It even goes further then that again like these dance shows and people trying to tell people how we can and cannot dance and move our bodies.. It’s these demotivational attitudes that distract us from the real reason why we dance. Ever since the dawn of time, dance has been recognised as not only a cultural life celebration, but also a physical exploration of our emotions. We lay out our souls on the stage and our agents etc don’t give us the respect that we dersever for all the blood, sweat and tears and years we put into our art… We get nothing back. I strongly believe that dancers are the most passionate people in the world, thats why I believe that we can make a hectic difference.
Let’s fsu!
This is sooo true.. We all live and breath dance but we are stuck stressing about whether or not we can pay this months rent.. Something needs to be done.. People need to stop treating dancers and extras like shit.. Because without us they’d honestly have nothing…
Hey!
Such a big issue for us!
I’m with Ilona, Its so insulting to be offered nothing for our time as if it’s merely a little hobby that where privileged to show. Shouldn’t people be privileged to watch our hard work and talent, as with any other skill? Take a TVC for instance, If your clearly seen in a TVC you take a certain bonus fee, If you talk theres a further fee, If you dance, No such luck? How is dancing any less than saying a line? It’s a special skill isn’t it?
I’m touring with fame at the moment and we recently had a meeting about creating a Dancers Union with in “Equity” Which currently sets the standards for Ballet Company’s, Musical theatre shows, Movies, Tv Shows and what ever else. They have started a whole new thing devoted to Dancers! I will email this blog along to someone!
I am in the states at the moment, It’s not so much more amazing than home, Theres just so many more people, giving chance for every style to thrive. We definitely have such a talented industry and yet where treated so unfairly?
Trav you are the encyclopedia of truth.
Trav… thank you for putting this out there! It is a beyond frustrating issue! I used to date a dancer who was a high profile, established dancer in the industry and often took free gigs. I would get so annoyed with him!! So if people like that are saying yes to free gigs (or for a few free products) what hope do we have for the younger generation that look up to them? The sadder part is when you look at the people asking for the free gigs! In saying that I have a fulltime job so it’s a little easier for me to say no to anything that is free. However, I studied for 4 years to become a high school teacher and I’ve been studying dance literally my WHOLE life for few paid dance gigs? How can this be justified? I would give it up in a second if I felt I could make a real living out of performing. I felt the only way I could live the life I desired was to get I quote ‘a real job’. So I now have my own apartment… but it angers me everytime I hear my friends say they struggle to make rent when I feel they are some of the most talented and creative beings on this planet (yes planet! This includes the USA!!!!) In saying all this there are a lot of lazy dancers that expect everything to just come to them and these aren’t the people i’m talking about..
Like anything we all have to work together for a change to be made… I feel like I teach and inspire students everyday towards a career and a life of struggle, which makes me so sad.
So much respect to the people like you and Lamb for the work you’re doing and for actually DOING SOMETHING! We need more people like you..
much love guys.
Hi Guys,
Good on ya Tommy. I’m in FAME with Tommy and am Equity Deputy. Equity is a branch of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, it’s basically the union for Performers & Journalists.
Recently, with Equity’s help, we held a meeting to discuss issues for dancers across the board. Personally, I’m an actor and although I struggle and fight a bit like you guys to get work, once you get the right jobs, you get paid properly and it’s easier to say NO to work. Fortunately for me, that is because older actors fought years ago for my rights and THEY won, for themselves and future artists. Unfortunately for dancers, you haven’t had the collective ability to bargain….yet.
Equity is trying to form a Dancer’s Committee full of dancers who are willing to make things happen and to talk to their students and colleagues about the issues you face, not just financial but also if you’re in a long running show, what upkeep you need to stay fit - physio, osteo, etc. There are SO many issues that can be discussed. What we need is YOU. I can’t speak for you, the Equity organisers will but they need to KNOW (they aren’t performers). This also means we need people to take themselves seriously and become members of the Union. A union is onyl as powerful as the strength of its combined members. The more dancers that join and voice there opinions, the harder it is for producers/employers to treat you like dirt. “Solidarity Forever!”
I’m forwarding this to Equity who will be much more articulate but if you guys are serious, contact me - Tdashwood@gmail.com and I’ll forward you to the people who are trying to make things happen.
Recently, the Performers Collective Agreement (basically the basis for all contracts you’ll be on - if your contracted but I won’t get into that - Equity can help with ALL situations) has been discussed and there was even a special MT meeting held in Sydney. Now’s the time to voice concerns, problems, etc.
If you’re serious, get back to me!
OATS
Tim
Is there a union for dance? YES!- I work for the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (Equity section) and I represent dancers at the Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move etc, people in musicals and freelancers. The issue is that not enough dancers are members of the union. About 90% of actors are members of Equity and as a result actors in Australia get paid really well compared to the rest of the world. We need to get dancers involved in the union and we need to build a power-base so that we can push dancers’ wages up. My email address is victoria.houston@alliance.org.au if anyone wants to get in touch with me…this year we are all about getting dancers more involved in the union and pushing for what dancers want. Please get in touch with me if you have thoughts, comments, wants…I’d love to hear from you. If dancers stand together and say no to free work and bad conditions they will be in the position of power and they will get the recognition they deserve.
Thanks, Victoria Houston.
Oh Wow I’m still crying hey cuz this just hits the nail on the head I mean I may not be as experienced as some or as good as some but Fffaaaahhh we work long & hard to make something of ourselves & to be seen & to perform what we love so it should be appreciated not abused. Amen Trav! Behind you & every1 else supporting this all the way, every step! I could go on & repeat what every1 else has on here too but I think a dancers union is fantastic! This as a while voice needs to be listened to. Much Love to all X