Where are the Dancers Reply
Editors Letters || Tuesday, 15 August, 2006
Yes, I quite agree! It always does feel like you can't speak up. Perhaps because this profession is so damned competitive (and I enjoy being a competitive person to a point) that one step out of line puts you out of consideration for a job or opportunity/. I know, I've seen it many times. The positive recognition is inexcusable; but let's face it, how often do people stand up to the world and pontificate about the greatness of, well, anything?
One point: the £375 p/wk Equity minimum? Well, I was paid that for 1 job. With a theatre company, not dance. Where all the actors were horrified at the pittance contemporary dancers are paid. I was living in ignorance of the difference between West End dancers salaries (even just the ensemble) and contemporary companies. Oh yes, my point? What was your point on that score? That the £375 should be enforced or that it is low anyway? The contemporary dance world is so far removed from the rest of society I can't tell anymore.
I was at Impulstanz this year and met a lot of dancers from all across the world. They all said to me they were surprised I was from London. Very few of them have any intention of coming here (to London), despite the recognition that there are more companies here than in many of their countries. However, they already know it is such an expensive city that quality of life just goes down the drain and the likelihood of finding a dance job is miniscule anyway. British contemporary dance is an island culture, and it's not helping itself.
I'm not sure if it can actually, but I'm also not sure it's aware of it. Many huge companies in continental Europe don't tour to London or anywhere else in the UK due to the cost. Much of the fluidity comes from individuals taking their own initiative. Perhaps this is what art is about? In our high speed culture of global communications we should be educating our audiences and practictioners faster than ever.
The gates need to be open for dance to evolve. I know hundreds of dancers and the vast majority would say there are no, or a very very few, UK based chroeographers or companies they really connect with artistically. It's hard enough to squeeze a toe in the door of any company. I want to feel the effort is worthwhile with a British dance culture that is vibrant, innovative and relelvant to contemporary society.
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