Still Why Are Dancers Asked to Do an Unpaid Gig? - Blog 18

 It is almost 2026. We are living in a world where AI can generate full choreography, creators earn lakhs for a single reel, and brands spend crores on influencer campaigns. Yet somehow, dancers; the people who literally move culture, trends, and entertainment are still being asked to perform for free. “It’ll give you exposure.” “It’ll look great on your portfolio.” Every dancer has heard these lines at least once, and the worst part is that most organisers think they’re doing the dancer a favour.

The irony is almost funny. Dance drives the internet today. Every trending song owes its reach to a hook step. Every concert depends on choreography to build energy. Every fashion or music festival uses dancers to make the event look larger than life. Even influencers who don’t dance hire choreographers to help them nail a clean, aesthetic routine. Dance is everywhere; except in the budget.

The question is how did we end up here?

A big part of the problem is the mindset India still carries about dance. For decades, dance has been treated more like a hobby than a profession. People assume dancers do it “for passion,” and passion somehow doesn’t deserve payment. What they forget is the insane amount of work that goes behind what looks “effortless” on stage. Hours of rehearsals, physical injuries, costume adjustments, coordination sessions, travel, practice after practice until the routine looks clean — none of it is accidental. Professional dancers train like athletes. Their bodies are their instrument and their career depends on it.

According to the Culture & Creativity Economy Report, 2023, nearly 67% of Indian performing artists said they are offered unpaid work at least once a month, and dancers topped the list. This is not because there is no money in the industry. It’s because people assume they can get away with not paying dancers. It’s not a budget issue but a priority issue. 

Unpaid gigs are even more insulting today because dance content has never been more monetised. Music labels rely on viral choreography to promote songs. Brands depend on dancers to add the “cool factor” to campaigns. Reality shows, wedding choreographers, music festivals; every corner of entertainment uses dancers to elevate their work. Yet when it’s time to pay, organisers magically forget that the dancer is part of the ecosystem that drives revenue.

The problem becomes bigger when young dancers fall into the “everyone starts with unpaid gigs” trap. Yes, every career has moments where you choose exposure or experience over money. But that choice should come from the artist, not because someone manipulates them into thinking unpaid work is the only way in. Some organisers even guilt-trip dancers by saying, “Hum dancers ko pay nahi karte, baaki sab free mein kaam karte hain.” But everyone knows that isn’t true. Videographers are paid. Light and sound teams are paid. Makeup artists are paid. Influencers are definitely paid. The only people expected to “manage somehow” are dancers.

As we step into 2026, the industry has to stop romanticising struggle. Enough of acting like artists don’t deserve money because “this is their dream.” Dreams require rent, groceries, commute, physiotherapy, and training fees. Talent cannot survive on exposure. And exposure can’t be eaten.

Change will truly begin when dancers collectively start saying no to unpaid gigs that exploit them. The industry knows how crucial dance is, it just hopes dancers haven’t realised their own worth yet. Events will not choreograph themselves. Stages will not feel alive without performers. Trends will not trend without dancers. The sooner the ecosystem accepts this, the sooner dancers will get the respect; and the pay they deserve.

Until then, one should keep your boundaries clear. Know your value. And the next time someone approaches you with the word “exposure,” feel free to ask them one simple question; '“Would you ask your videographer to work for exposure?”

If the answer is no, then yours should be too.

Shreya Roy Choudhury