Passion, precarity and inequality? Working conditions of urban dancers in Colombia

Cultural and Creative Industries is a growing sector that has been characterised
to offer precarious working conditions. Nevertheless, as cultural work operates
under the complex dilemma of passion and precarity, there is no clear
understanding of how social policy can effectively support the increasing
number of workers to overcome these circumstances. Therefore, any social
policy that aims to provide protection needs to question how labour precarity
is interpreted and managed, and what are the specific demands of the workers.
By using a life history research and intersectional sensitivity, I analysed the
working conditions of urban dancers in Bogotá from their subjective
perspective. Seven participants of a different class, age, race, and gender were
interviewed using online means, and a digital ethnography exploration of their
social networks (Instagram, YouTube and Facebook) was conducted.
With this research, I will argue that it is necessary to problematize the negative
connotation of labour precarity because dancers experience their work
circumstances according to their positionalities and context. The
interconnection of different identity markers influences their perception of
precarity and the strategies they used to manage it. Moreover, this diversity of
experiences has revealed an enrooted problem of cultural work inequality.
Regarding their demands, social policy should acknowledge their double facet
of artist and worker when listening to their need. This is a process that includes
addressing issues both for redistribution and recognition