Super Bowl halftime show producers will stop asking professional dancers to work for free

After a considerable backlash from the dance community, the NFL will stop asking professional dancers to work for free as part of its upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.

SAG-AFTRA, the entertainment union that counts dancers among its members, announced in a statement Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with the halftime show producers for all professional dancers in the show to be compensated for their labor.

The statement also notes that Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, which will executive produce the show, had already contracted 115 paid dancers for the stage show:

“SAG-AFTRA and the producers of the Super Bowl Halftime Show have met and had an open and frank discussion, and have agreed that no professional dancers will be asked to work for free as part of the halftime show. SAG-AFTRA will be advising our professional dancer members that they should not be rehearsing or working on the Super Bowl Halftime Show without compensation.

“It is important to note that Roc Nation had always contracted for 115 paid SAG-AFTRA professional dancers as part of the stage show. We are grateful to Roc Nation, their producer and in particular our member Jay-Z, for their collaboration and commitment to professional artists.

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