Ballet Austin and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) today jointly announced their first collective bargaining agreement covering Ballet Austin dancers. The parties reached an agreement on Monday, July 20, and it was ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on Monday, August 10.
In a written statement, the dancers on the AGMA negotiating committee stated: “This first agreement marks an exciting new chapter for Ballet Austin. We’re proud of the work that went into reaching this agreement and grateful for the opportunity to shape a stronger future for our company together.”
“This agreement reflects nearly two years of thoughtful and productive dialogue and a shared commitment to Ballet Austin’s extraordinary artists,” Stephen Mills, Ballet Austin’s Sarah & Ernest Butler Family Fund Artistic Director, said. “The process gave us an opportunity to listen, learn and establish agreements and practices that provide a strong foundation for our artists and for Ballet Austin’s future.”
This is a three-year agreement between Ballet Austin and AGMA, the national labor union of dancers, singers, and staging staff in dance, opera, and concert performance. It ensures that all artists have safe, healthy working conditions and reliable pay that honors their essential work in the production of dance.
The agreement is the culmination of 22 months of collaboration between Ballet Austin and AGMA. Ballet Austin’s dancers first petitioned for union representation in December 2023, and collective bargaining negotiations began in October 2024.
“We’re very pleased to have completed this negotiation and grateful for the collaborative spirit with which it was conducted,” said Griff Braun, AGMA’s National Organizing Director. “The determination and resolve of the dancers of Ballet Austin was inspiring, and I believe the agreement we have reached will make their lives better and strengthen the organization as a whole.”
For nearly 70 years, Ballet Austin has been an integral part of the cultural life of one of the nation’s most dynamic and fastest-growing cities known for innovation and technology. Today, Ballet Austin artists perform for more than 50,000 audience members at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, while the organization extends the benefits of dance well beyond the stage through education, community engagement, and health and wellness programs.
“This process created a forum for important conversations with our artists,” Mills said. “As we begin a new season, we are excited to move forward together and turn our full attention to what unites everyone at Ballet Austin: creating exceptional art, serving our community and ensuring a vibrant future for dance in Austin.”
Ballet Austin opens its 2026–27 season September 25–27 with Stephen Mills’ interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.