iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A California-based Indian choreographer has claimed that all the ‘desi dancers’ in Diljit Dosanjh’s North America tour were not paid. The claims were made on Instagram.
Rajat Rocky Batta, who runs the RRB Dance Company in St. Cerritos, California, penned a long note on the social media site. While he said he’s happy for the Indian singer’s success and international breakthrough, he called him out for the lack of payment for background dancers.
“While we as a Desi Dance Community are really proud of a Desi Artist breaking glass ceilings and doing sold out tours across North America… I still feel deeply disappointed that Desi Dancers are still undervalued as an industry. All of the Desi Dancers in Diljit’s Diluminati Tour were not paid, and just expected to perform for free,” Batta wrote.
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He added, “Desi Dance as an industry has become a lifeblood for artists and do a significant part in the entire ecosystem of the industry… while its choreography, stage performances, music videos, reels, to even promoting songs… It’s an essential part of production and it’s really disappointing to see an artist of this caliber cut corners by stepping on throats of Desi Dancer industry and continue to attribute to that culture. Diljit, we are very happy for your success, but your dancers should have been paid and been a part of the production budget.”
Dosanj’s Dil-Luminati tour was a massive hit in the US and Canada, selling out arenas.
However, just hours after Batta’s post went viral, a group of dancers who performed with Dosanjh during the tour, distanced themselves from the choreographer’s sentiment.
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“While we appreciate the concern, we do not wish to be represented by the voices who don’t understand our relationship, our motivations, sacrifices, and the immense value we place on such experiences. We are proud of our participation and the new avenues it has opened for the Punjabi community. Do not try to break our bond. We stand united,” read the post.
