Ooof you’re gonna get cancelled.

Now this isn’t about what you think this is about. IYKYK.

However, cancel culture is rife in our world, it usually refers to public pressure, criticism, boycotts, or social consequences aimed at someone for something they said or did.

The most valid forms of cancelling someone are assault, racism etc but it seems now it’s become a word in the celebrity world… it’s seeping into the rest of the world too. I hear teens say it, I hear students say it, I mean I might even say it in events if I say something borderline controversial. But the weirdest part is the fear of getting cancelled is so rife in the dance world (eveyone is self employed or aiming to be ) that it actually allows some situations, comments and opinions slide. Things that are totally not acceptable in the ‘real world’ are accepted because of fear based environments.

For example,

• You perhaps don’t say anything to a dance teacher about a situation that you felt was bullying, in the fear they might take it out on your child by putting them at the back or in the worst costume.

• You say yes to whatever a casting director says in an audition because you want to book the job.

• You accept a critique from a judge purely because they have some connections in the industry and you’ve heard people get blacklisted. (In 20 years, I’ve only heard of one person expelled from a college - and they still booked professional work - and I don’t know anyone who’s been blacklisted in the industry - well I might know someone after last nights outburst.)

• You continue working for an establishment even if you don’t believe in the values purely because it pays the bills.

It’s not all doom and gloom though; there’s also a positive side historically harsh or abusive teaching methods that were once normalized are now questioned more openly. Students feel safer speaking up about genuinely harmful behaviour as there is pastoral care available. Equity rules have tightened and there’s more support in contracts.

So how does this change.

There needs to be balance.

People should not feel fear to speak out about what’s wrong but also it shouldn’t be taken for granted or exaggerated to ruin someone’s livelihood without benefit of the doubt and a two sided story, or explanation.

I’ve been thanked over twenty times in the last 24hours by complete strangers in the dance industry for authentically and fairly standing up for what is right. I find that wild, that that need celebrating. Let’s do better.