(The Stage) LONDON—Ballet dancers will face years of financial crisis when they retire, following new government plans to stop them drawing a pension before 55—20 years after their average retirement age.
The move to raise the U.K. retirement age, announced in a green paper from the Department of Work and Pensions, would stop dancers being able to access their pensions either as a lump sum or through monthly payments at 35.
British Equity, which includes dancers in its own pension scheme, has protested against the proposals.
A spokesman said: "This is very serious indeed. It means dancers won't be able to get their hands on cash when they retire. Most don't dance until 55 so the money is extremely important for retraining. Schemes such as Dancers' Career Development help but these moves could destroy them."
Under government proposals to simplify taxation of pensions, a minimum retirement age of 55 will be applied to all schemes from 2010 "including those for particular trades where people may retire at a relatively young age."
Performers aged 27 or older will escape the change but many younger dancers, who have been training and performing since the age of eight, will have to look at other means to provide security when they retire.
Originally published in The Stage Jan. 9, 2003 and reproduced, in edited format, with its permission. The Stage is at www.thestage.co.uk.