Australian Ballet dancers to take first industrial action in more than four decades

Dancers will ‘hold the curtain’ at a Melbourne performance on Friday, after negotiations to ensure appropriate pay rises failed

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Dancers of the Australian Ballet will take industrial action for the first time in more than four decades, after negotiations with management over a new workplace agreement reached an impasse on Monday.

Dancers will “hold the curtain” at this Friday’s performance in Melbourne, meaning the show Identity, a program of two original works, will be delayed by 15 minutes.

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