We, the Dancers of Boston Ballet, take great pride in the work of all former and present dancers of the company and their contributions to the tradition of artistic excellence that characterizes this institution. In honoring this work, we stand in solidarity with the dancers not returning for the 20/21 season in their efforts for transparency and integrity of management in providing an “equitable solution” to the measures taken in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Understanding the gravity of this crisis and respecting the pressure under which decisions are being made, it is our duty as workers to unite behind our colleagues in petitioning the following:

• Non-returning dancers deserve to receive health insurance benefits through July 29th as designated in their non-reengagement letters. We believe that in reducing their coverage by a month (through June 30th), management is acting against its own efforts to prioritize health in the midst of a pandemic.

• Non-returning dancers deserve to receive an “equitable alternative” to the July/ August work period. The discussion of this alternative was suggested and communicated via emails prior to being excluded from management’s final resolution. We believe that if we are being paid at the 19/20 rates for this work period, it is unfair to exclude these dancers from any type of compensation for the weeks lost.

The unprecedented uncertainty that this historic moment brings forth will present obstacles to everyone’s lives. We must stress that these dancers, unlike us who have a job to return to in the aftermath of this pandemic, will suffer a great deal of difficulty to recover as work opportunities will continue to diminish. We know that tough times don’t last and that only tough people do, but it is worth noting that it doesn’t matter how tough one is if one is left alone in times of need. It is morally imperative to help them as much as we can as a testimonial to what makes this company truly exceptional; its dancers.