Conflicts at the Royal Ballet have emerged in the past week over the lack of notice dancers say they are being given by the artistic director, Ross Stretton, about the roles they perform and the timing of performances.
This conflict shows that dancers need to be versatile as well as mastering great technical detail. There is far more to dancing than standing on pointes and executing a perfect arabesque. Dancers must also maintain excellent fitness, and imbue each performance with emotion.
Dancers have extensive training in classical ballet; the Royal Ballet School provides regular ballet tuition on top of standard academic work for students from the age of 11. Other schools have three-year courses for people from the age of 16. Performing arts colleges also offer tuition.
Most ballet dancers retire in their mid-thirties and move into teaching, choreography, artistic direction or the administrative side of dancing.
Wages
The entertainers' union Equity has agreements with each ballet company for how much different grades of dancer earn. Members of the corps de ballet at the Royal Ballet earn £22,000 a year in their second year at the company. This rises by £1,000 every year they stay. Soloists earn £32,500, with the first soloist getting £39,000.
Dancers who hop from company to company as guest artists negotiate their own fee for each production. As they are basically freelances, they often employ an agent to manage their work and an accountant to keep the books.
Perks
Dancers love what they do. Performing for an appreciative audience is a massive buzz, and when a production comes together it is very satisfying.
They work closely together, establishing a group bond that makes for a great working environment.
Touring companies such as the English National Ballet travel the country and sometimes abroad. Each company performs a few different productions each season, so there is little opportunity to get bored.
Disadvantages
The concentration needed to perform can be draining. Dancing is exhausting, and even when performing in the evenings companies rehearse during the day.
Developing a new production or role is an intense process. People may have different ideas about how a role should be presented, creating potential conflict.
Great discipline is needed to train daily. Staying fit often requires exercise on top of the daily two-hour ballet classes and six-hour rehearsals of most companies.
Dancers are vulnerable to injuries, which can halt their work for long periods and even end careers.
The future
Ballet companies are trying to reach a wider audience. In 1990 what was the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet moved to Birmingham. Touring companies such as the Northern Ballet Theatre and English National Ballet tour cities across the UK.
The pieces performed are expanding from the purely classical to a wider range, with new types of choreography and sets.
My view: Kevin O'Hare
Kevin O'Hare is company manager of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he was principal dancer for 10 years until he retired in 2000. As a child he was in the film Bugsy Malone before attending the Royal Ballet School from 12. Now he liaises with both ballet and administrative staff, supporting the dancers.
"I loved getting into a character when I was dancing. It can be hard work on tour when you are performing in places with very few facilities, but it is great to open ballet up to a wider audience," O'Hare says.
"Ballet is not as elitist as it has been - it's much more accessible. We are trying to get people to see new work rather than only Swan Lake, and move the art form on."
