Dear Dance Community,

Dance/NYC remains in solidarity with the workers affected by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes, as they fight for improved working conditions for arts workers.

As Dance/NYC continues its focus on the Dance. Workforce. Resilience. (DWR) Initiative, it is imperative to draw the connection between the issues highlighted by these strikes—along with many others happening across industries—and the ongoing economic inequity prevalent in dance and performance including low wages, lack of access to adequate health care and benefits, and the need for more accessible and inclusive working conditions. We reassert that #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers and those putting their bodies on the line face some of the greatest challenges in keeping up with cost of living, and sustaining basic human needs.

With so many dance workers operating across industries, we want to find out how this strike is affecting you as we seek to address your questions and concerns. Standards flow across sectors; how these demands are met by one union will have ripple effects across the creative ecosystem.

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) will host a webinar on Thursday, August 10 at 4:00 p.m. ET to share resources for New Yorkers impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Representatives from New York State Department of Labor, the Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), the Episcopal Actors’ Guild and Behind the Scenes will be available to answer questions. The webinar is open to the public, and registration is required. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact MOME’s Disability Services Facilitator at DisabilityServices@media.nyc.gov or 212-602-7418 (voice only) by Friday, August 4, 2023.

Dance/NYC will be attending to represent NYC dance workers–if you have any questions you would like us to bring to the table, please fill out this short three (3) question form.

Several individuals and organizations in the field have compiled helpful information and resources:

• Check out Cheyenne Cardenas’ insight on how the strike affects dancers;
• The Entertainment Community Fund has emergency resources and tips for those affected by the work stoppage;
• Attend the “Financial Wellness If Your Industry Work is on Pause” workshop on August 4, 2023;
• Support workers affected by the strike by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund’s emergency financial assistance program

Dance/NYC recognizes that our industry must evolve and we will do our part to contribute to a thriving and just future for arts and dance workers.