Who would be in charge of securing acts for President-elect Trump’s inauguration! After yesterday’s reassuring announcement that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform a whole new kerfuffle has broken out over another set of artist slated to perform – the Radio City Rockettes!
Following an announcement Thursday that the Rockettes would perform, Variety reported that one dancer took to Instagram to express her “embarrassment” and “disappointment” at what she described as a forced commitment.
“I usually don’t use social media to make a political stand but I feel overwhelmed with emotion,” Rockette Phoebe Pearl wrote in a now-deleted post on her personal account. “Finding out that it has been decided for us that Rockettes will be performing at the Presidential inauguration makes me feel embarrassed and disappointed. The women I work with are intelligent and are full of love and the decision of performing for a man that stands for everything we’re against is appalling. I am speaking for just myself but please know that after we found out this news, we have been performing with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts. We will not be forced! #notmypresident.”
However, the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) which represents the Rockettes has essentially told them that they have to perform. BroadwayWorld, reported that the AGVA sent an email to its members saying just that:
“We have received an email from a Rockette expressing concern about getting “involved in a dangerous political climate” but I must remind you that you are all employees, and as a company, Mr. Dolan obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s Presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 & 2005. Any talk of boycotting this event is invalid, I’m afraid,” the email reads.
“We have been made aware of what is going on Facebook and other social media, however, this does not change anything unless Radio City has a change of heart. The ranting of the public is just that, ranting. Everyone has a right to an opinion, but this does not change your employment status for those who are full time.”
Finally the email concludes in bold, “If you are not full time, you do not have to sign up to do this work. If you are full time, you are obligated. Doing the best performance to reflect an American Institution which has been here for over 90 years is your job. I hope this pulls into focus the bottom line on this work.”
Madison Square Garden Company, which oversees the Radio City Rockettes, insists no one is being forced to perform. “For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural,” the statement, reported by Variety reads. “It is always their choice. In fact, for the coming inauguration, we had more Rockettes request to participate than we have slots available. We eagerly await the inaugural celebrations.”
