By: Nina He

During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, thousands of performers—includingdancers and musicians—are expected to perform on the bridges and banks of the Seine River.

However, some dancers have threatened a walkout.

Their reason was that they were being paid unfairly and some dancers were being paid more than others.
The performers’ labor unions—which are organizations founded by workers to improve working conditions—complained that the 250 – 300 dancers on temporary contracts were being paid less than the other dancers, who are full-time employees of dance or ballet companies. The unions demanded that they get paid the same. They’re still dancers. And they’ll still dance. So why should they get paid less?

The labor union also demanded increased housing and transportation allowances be factored into their salaries. Some dancers who were recruited outside of Paris had to pay a lot for plane tickets, transportation fees, and housing. These demands, if met, will help those dancers to cover the additional costs of commuting or relocating, thus easing their financial burden.

To protest their unfair treatment, 200 dancers disrupted a rehearsal, standing with their firsts raised for 8 minutes. They then threatened a strike and walkout.

The S.F.A.-C.G.T. union, the representative organization for artists and performers, said that after a discussion with the Games organizers they agreed to increase the pay for the temporary contract dancers.
The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee said: “The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be a unique moment of celebration and unity, and we are delighted that it will be held under satisfactory conditions for all those involved.”

Despite these demands from the performers, meeting their requests is important for the overall performance. This is especially important because if dancers aren’t happy, it will be reflected in their performance and give a dull look instead of a cheerful, vibrant one.

Ensuring the performers are happy is vital for the overall ceremony.