Dance Worker Digest
September 2024

This month’s topics cover Dance/USA’s survey of the national dance ecosystem, Ballot Proposal One in the next election, the Senate’s AI Policy Roadmap, and rent increases for leases 
signed on or after October 1, 2024.

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Dance/USA Surveys National Dance Ecosystem

Dance/USA is conducting a survey of the national dance ecosystem. The survey is open to those living and/or working in the U.S. dance field—dance artists, administrators, presenters, technical teams, educators, archivists, and more. The survey will inform Dance/USA's Strategic Reframing Process, through which Dance/USA will re-evaluate and re-articulate their work as a national service organization.⁠

The purpose of the survey is to learn about the individuals and organizations, beyond the Dance/USA member community, who make up the U.S. dance sector and understand how Dance/USA can serve and support them. The survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Five survey respondents will be randomly selected to win a $100 American Express gift card.

• Take Dance/USA's survey
• Check out the press release on the survey launch

Photo credit: Bob Perkoski. Courtesy of Dance/USA

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New Yorkers Will Vote on Equal Rights Amendment in General Election

In this year's general election on November 5, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to protect our rights and reproductive freedoms in the New York State Constitution. Voters can vote on a ballot proposal, Proposal 1, which would codify protections for ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, LGBTQ identity, pregnancy and reproductive healthcare including abortion into the law.

Passing Prop 1 is vital to protect our communities now and for the long haul. Currently, the New York State Constitution has protections for race and religion, but none of these other categories. Without these, our communities remain vulnerable to new legislation that could endanger our safety and ability to thrive. Dance/NYC will release an Advocacy Alert in October with more information about how to engage in this election.

• Learn more about the New York Equal Rights Amendment
• Review the official language of Proposal One

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U.S. Senate Releases AI Policy Roadmap

Earlier this year, a Senate working group on artificial intelligence (AI) policy released a roadmap with a number of policy recommendations for governing AI. These recommendations emerged from a series of nine AI “Insight Forums” conducted throughout 2023. Recommendations consider issues like copyright transparency, bias in AI, and the impacts of AI on the workforce. So far, Congress has failed to pass comprehensive AI legislation.

The development of AI policy will have large impacts on the creativity, innovation, and livelihoods of the dance community. Congress has the opportunity to develop methods of AI governance that protect employment opportunities that impact the dance workforce.

• Scan a one-page summary of the AI policy roadmap
• Review the full AI policy roadmap
• Check out Tech Policy Press’s AI Insight Forum Tracker

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NYC Rent Guidelines Board Approves 2.75% Increase

Earlier this year, the NYC Rent Guidelines Board voted to approve a 2.75% rent increase for one-year leases and 5.25% on two-year leases for rent-stabilized apartments. These increases will go into effect for any leases signed on or after October 1, 2024.

Rent increases impact tenants in 1 million rent stabilized apartments, half of whom are already considered rent-burdened. Meanwhile, landlord incomes for rent-stabilized buildings are rising. Dance/NYC’s State of 2023 Dance Report found that average dance worker wages sit below 15% of the New York City living wage. Given this, advocating for housing protections for low-income renters is key to ensuring our community can sustainably live and work in New York City.

• Review news coverage on the Rent Guidelines Board increase
• Check if your building is rent stabilized
• Learn more about rights in rent stabilized buildings