Freelance dancer Anthony Matsena stretches in a dance studio in front of blue seating with female dancer Nikita

Freelance Taskforce support from NDCWales, Groundwork and Rubicon Dance

In order to support freelance dance artists in Wales, Rubicon and National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) have each signed this letter (which is also available in BSL here) and have each committed to pay a freelance artist to be part of the ‘theatre and performance UK freelance taskforce’.

Groundwork initiated the programme with Rubicon and NDCWales. Groundwork supports ‘dancers, movers and makers across Wales’.

The following allocation of funds was agreed collectively between Rubicon, NDCWales and Groundwork:

Groundwork team members Deborah Light and Zosia Jo will share the role supported by Rubicon.
The role provided by NDCW was offered out by invitation to dance artists of colour/diverse heritage. Via expressions of interest Krystal S. Lowe and Anthony Matsena have been identified to fulfil the role.

These 4 freelancers will each be paid the equivalent of £175 a day for 6.5 days.

They will be free to navigate this role as they see fit and are responsible only to the freelance community they are part of, they are not expected to represent Rubicon or NDCWales. It is hoped that the Groundwork team members and other freelancers will work together to amplify the voices of diverse dance artists in Wales.

Through their programme of activity Groundwork will draw in and pay additional people to have a voice in this process and NDCWales has contributed additional funds to support this broader consultation.

This taskforce has been initiated by FUEL and over 100 UK organisations have committed to supporting a freelancer to be part of it. 
The aim of the Freelance Task Force is to strengthen the influence of the self-employed theatre and performance community. It will create ongoing points of connection between freelancers, organisations, funders and government and amplify the voice of the self-employed in the conversations to come about how we manage the response to and recovery from the Covid-19 crisis in the performing arts sector.