Ballet BC dancer Emily Chessa performs in Medhi Walerski's just BEFORE right AFTER. Chessa says a $2-million philanthropic gift to raise salaries is 'a turning point' for the company's dancers.Ballet BC, Vancouver’s renowned contemporary dance company, has received its largest-ever philanthropic donation and plans to pass all the money on to its dancers, the company announced today.
Company leaders declined to share specific details about Ballet BC’s contracts, but said salaries now start at the same hourly rate as those at National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. New corps members are scheduled to make just under $1,196 a week next season, according to National Ballet’s publicly available union contract.
The company closed out its 2023-2024 season with a June residency and performance at Italy’s Orsolina28 Art Foundation, and thanks to the gift, will receive paycheques during their four weeks off for the first time. Now in her mid-90s, McLennan began discussing her major gift to Ballet BC a decade ago, Walerski said. He took the helm of the company in 2020, after former artistic director Emily Molnar departed to run Nederlands Dans Teater. Under Molnar’s leadership, Ballet BC emerged as a top incubator for dancers and choreographers in Canada, including new Ballet Edmonton artistic director Kirsten Wicklund. The company also enjoys a long relationship with Vancouver-based choreographer Crystal Pite.
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