We're a really interesting NASO. When I sit in a room with my colleagues from the Canadian Arts Coalition, we're one of the only National Arts Service Organizations that services both individuals and organizations. We have partnered with ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society in providing affordable, accessible health care to individual dancers, which is absolutely essential—not just for their kids to go to the dentist, but also if they have injuries. Allowing them to have access to health care is really important. Believe it or not, they are very interested in the advocacy work we do at the federal level, and they want to support that individually. We also partner with many other organizations, like the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, which is not a union but represents their rights. They have a document on protecting the rights of Canadian dancers. We certainly stand beside them in supporting safe working environments, so that when you come into a studio it's not freezing cold, that you dance on a sprung floor, which is incredibly important to prevent injuries, and those types of requirements. We try to work as best as possible to keep those individuals up to date and protected.
On May 4th, 2015. See this statement in context.