Equity and the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) have together created a new union agreement for use by dance companies that would guarantee fair terms and conditions for dancers. It’s a continuation of joint efforts to improve use of union contracts across the hugely important dance sector.
The new agreement encapsulates the existing Dance Appendix of the Fair Work Approved Agreement (formerly known as the Ethical Manager Agreement) into a separate Dance Company Member Agreement. Both organisations believe this makes the terms and conditions much clearer and hope that it will encourage Dance Companies to use an appropriate union agreement for their dancer workforces.
The new agreement (formerly the appendix) contains bespoke considerations and negotiations directly linked to physicality of dance and logistics of dance touring, including:
- Considerations around physio support
- Lowering of overall dance hours
- Importance of class to professional dancers
- Safe working temperatures
- Requirements re: flooring and shoes
Equity’s Dance Official, Lottie Stables said:
“This is an important step in ensuring that dance artists, as a key part of our membership, are fully represented within and protected by union agreements. It also considers mutual needs of both our members and the companies engaging them — showing dance producers that there are union agreements that fit with the type of work they do, whilst offering fair and dignified working conditions for the dance artists they employ.”
ITC’s Chief Executive Officer, Charlotte Jones, said:
“This is an incredibly useful process for ITC and Equity to refine our offer for dance companies and dancers. We want dance companies and dancers to feel valued and supported. We encourage as many as possible to use this new contract. As with all our contracts, it will be reviewed regularly and we welcome your feedback.”
Karrim Jalali, Equity Official leading on negotiations and relations with ITC said:
“We promised earlier this year to a range of companies that we would properly amalgamate the Dance Appendix with the overall Performer and Stage Management Agreement. Previously it required crosschecking the Dance Appendix with the key agreement simply to work out standard minimum terms & conditions of work.
"The ITC/Equity Fair Work Approved Dance Company Member Agreement now makes it much simpler and easier to understand. Whilst important, that is clearly a short-term measure. In the coming years, we intend to work with our dancer members, hear from dance companies, and continue to work constructively with ITC, so that the agreement is as fit for purpose as possible.”
Dance Company Member Agreement
