Equity

Equity and Dance Professionals

Equity is made up of professional performers including dancers and choreographers who are well represented within the organisation. Many belong to the standing dance companies but the majority are freelancers working across the entire entertainment industry in the UK and overseas. Equity recognises this and works hard to try to ensure that our dance members are protected. Here are some of the things we do for them.

• Equity Agreements and Contracts for live and recorded work which provide safeguards and protections: minimum rates of pay, temperature control, suitable floors, breaks, raked stages, holidays, rehearsals and many other aspects.
• Practical support to members in the case of injury: free legal help, compensation claims, free accident insurance cover. e.g. recently we won a record compensation award for an injured dancer and aerialist.
• Equity members' pension scheme.
• Financial support for Dance UK and the Healthier Dancer Programme.
• Helped to set up the Dancer's Trust including Dancer's Career Development. This continues to be supported by the Equity Charitable Trust.
• Practical support on all work issues e.g. recently we negotiated a settlement of quarter of a million pounds for 7 dancers whose contracts had been terminated.
• Free insurance including accident, backstage and public liability, plus an insurance scheme for dancers and choreographers giving access to specialist scans and consultants in the case of injury.
• Representation if an individual member has a problem e.g we have recently helped a choreographer whose employer had accused them of plagiarism and had refused to pay their fee. After our intervention the choreographer was paid in full.
• Dance passport for dancer and choreographer members working in Europe.
• Job Information Service online and on the 'phone with a section dedicated to current, paid work available in dance.
• Equity is a board members of the Council for Dance Education and Training, CDET, and we have a student membership scheme which costs £10 per year.
• Publish guides on a range of subjects including Working in the European Union, Equality Issues, Advice and Rights, Eating Disorders, You and Your Agent, Health and Safety, all of which are given free to members.
• Experienced staff with specialist knowledge at the end of a 'phone or email.