Louisville Ballet is $400 a week for corps and has roughly a 33 week contract...could probably be eligible for low income housing. They are not offered any type of retirement plan, which is also disturbing. Soloists and principles only make maybe a couple hundred more a week. Most of the "corps de ballet" seen on stage actually consists of "trainees" which are only compensated for shoes, and donate all of their time and energy in hopes of receiving an apprentice contract for $300. These numbers have not changed in the past five years, so let's keep in mind inflation too and the rise in the cost of living. It is a disgrace what dancers earn and the fact that they can't even be employed for a full year and are forced to draw unemployment during layoffs throughout the season and summer. The question is, where does all of the $ go?? Most to pay off previous and current debts, a large chunk also goes to administration and directors. The ironic thing is, when you go to a ballet, who do you go to see? The dancers of course, the ones that are slaving, starving, and pushing their minds and bodies to limits that are not compensated fairly!!!
