Dancer and activist Taja Riley is encouraging professional dancers to assert their value after allegations emerged last week that the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show made a casting call for "volunteer" dancers.
Riley's post, shared on January 19, prompted a fierce response from the dance community. It includes screenshots of what appears to be a casting email from Bloc Agency — which represents this year's halftime show coordinator, Fatima Robinson — indicating dancers who sign up will not be paid and will be required to rehearse for 72 hours over nine days, with no transportation provided to or from Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.
The email specifies that all rehearsals are mandatory and that missing any rehearsal time would bar the dancers from participating in the show.
It also stresses that all information surrounding the show must be kept confidential. In addition to the casting email, Riley's post features screenshots of a group DM from a Bloc client claiming to be a group leader for the volunteer performers.
Read more on thefader.com