Folks love to drag even the most unproblematic of queen into some mess.
Beyoncé’s choreographer has fired back at some insane accusations that the singer pays her dancers low rates. The Dancers Alliance–which claims to negotiate equitable rates and working conditions for non-union workers in the industry–took aim at Beyoncé for a music video she’s allegedly shooting.
In a two-part Instagram post, the Dancers Alliance claims that SAG-AFTRA, a labor union representing working performers, found out that Beyoncé held a casting call for models, actors, and dancers. The Dancers Alliance further claims the casting call announced it would be paying dancers $250 per day rather than the Dancers Alliance’s “baseline standard of at least” $500 per day.
“Dancers accepting these low rates for this caliber artist or any artist is UNACCEPTABLE,” it wrote. “Choreographers not sticking up to production companies about proper DA baseline rates to hire professional dancers is UNACCEPTABLE!”
JaQuel Knight, Beyoncé’s choreographer, responded to the accusations in several Instagram stories. Knight claims that $250 per day is the rate for extras, and the rate is on the “higher-end” for extras, which typically runs $125. Knight asked the Dancers Alliance for receipts.
“Please run me the production company, the choreographer, the shoot dates, the dancers that have rehearsed and are shooting for these rates,” wrote Knight, who began working with Beyoncé at just 18 when he choreographed the music video for “Single Ladies.”
Knight says he usually stays out of “Instagram debates”–Beyoncé and her team are notoriously private–but he refuses “to let you guys come and throw dirt on this lady’s name.”
Beyoncé’s choreographer comes to her defense after the organization, “Dancers Alliance,” accused the singer of paying ‘low rates’ to dancers. pic.twitter.com/w5EP3G7484
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 8, 2019
