The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the union of the dancers and stage managers of the SF Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) have reached a two-year agreement retroactive to July 1, 2024.
The agreement enabled the company of 84 dancers and three stage managers to raise the curtain on opening night of SF Ballet’s 2024/25 season, including the 20thanniversary performances of Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker and the seven-program season that continues in January with story ballets envisioned by Tamara Rojo, SF Ballet’s Artistic Director, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan; a quartet of ballets by Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen; and works by contemporary choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The contract was approved by SF Ballet and ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on December 16, following approval by the dancers and stage managers.
After months of intentional negotiations, a process structured to better and more expeditiously create mutually beneficial solutions, the Union and SF Ballet leadership came to a consensus on issues ranging from salaries, rest periods, and health and wellness to the number of dancers employed by the company.
“Growing up attending SF Ballet productions, I have long admired the artists of this company,” said Jeffrey Boyd, AGMA’s National Executive Director. “This Collective Bargaining Agreement is a testament to the solidarity of the dancers and stage managers of the shop. We look forward to continued collaboration with the company to ensure a thriving future for the artists, the institution, and the Bay Area.”
“We are thrilled to come to a respectful and equitable agreement with the world-class dancers and stage managers of San Francisco Ballet,” said Branislav Henselmann, recently appointed Executive Director of SF Ballet. “The exemplary artists of SF Ballet, who continue to build upon the legacy and artistry of the nation’s oldest ballet company with a firm vision on the future of the art form, are the reason I joined the organization; I am delighted to say that we achieved this agreement with mutual respect and dedication to reaching a consensus on dancers’ and stage managers’ advancement and institutional sustainability. We are excited to celebrate with a season that showcases the excellence of our company through works in contemporary and classical ballet and company premieres of works not often staged in the U.S.”
Highlights of the agreement include significant wage increases for company members, the addition of new ranks to the company to provide more opportunities for promotion and career advancement, guaranteed new health, wellness, and safety provisions, and provisions to address Stage Management workload.