The simple truth, it seems to me, is that after we leave the EU - assuming the insane plan of the disaster capitalists goes ahead - outside of London and the major festivals - Edinburgh, Brighton, Birmingham International Dance Festival - there will be minimal or no opportunities to see European dance companies in the UK.
It also has to be borne in mind that although well-funded companies with dancers under contract may be protected to an extent, the livelihoods of European dancers in the UK and UK dancers in the EU - especially those that are independent and/or freelance - are under serious threat. Although one imagines that EU member states are likely to be considerably less culturally suicidal than our own idiot nation.
Not to forget that choreographers, musicians, costume and lighting designers and technicians will be in the same leaky, Brexity boat.
Even for companies with under-contract dancers, having to protect the right to work in the UK for former-EU dancers, in addition to those from the Americas and the Far East etc. will place an additional administrative and financial burden on those companies and even when budgets appear generous money is still pretty tight.
For those living and working on a grant by grant basis, who knows that the future holds. Sixty years of British dance progress down the Brexit toilet?
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It also has to be borne in mind that although well-funded companies with dancers under contract may be protected to an extent, the livelihoods of European dancers in the UK and UK dancers in the EU - especially those that are independent and/or freelance - are under serious threat. Although one imagines that EU member states are likely to be considerably less culturally suicidal than our own idiot nation.
Not to forget that choreographers, musicians, costume and lighting designers and technicians will be in the same leaky, Brexity boat.
Even for companies with under-contract dancers, having to protect the right to work in the UK for former-EU dancers, in addition to those from the Americas and the Far East etc. will place an additional administrative and financial burden on those companies and even when budgets appear generous money is still pretty tight.
For those living and working on a grant by grant basis, who knows that the future holds. Sixty years of British dance progress down the Brexit toilet?
