Syracuse Ballet Fires Its Dancers for Going on Strike Ahead of “The Nutcracker” Performance

The Central New York company said its upcoming four-date run of the Christmastime classic will go on as scheduled

The majority of the dancers with the Syracuse City Ballet will not appear in an upcoming run of The Nutcracker after the company fired the performers for walking off the job, according to multiple reports.

At least five full-time dancers were terminated after they demanded changes in working conditions and artistic direction with the company for more than a year, according to Syracuse.com and local outlet CNY Central.

The firings come two weeks before the Syracuse City Ballet is set to stage four performances of the Christmastime classic, which is a major revenue-generator for the central New York ballet company, per Syracuse.com.

A representative with SCB did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Five out of the company’s eight dancers went on strike for nearly one week over what they said was a hostile work environment, ABC affiliate WSYR-TV reported.

“As dancers, we’re used to being pushed both physically and emotionally,” Cara Connolly, one of the dancers fired last week, told Syracuse.com. “Ballet is not for the faint of heart. We’re used to a lot of things other people wouldn’t accept...But we need to trust leadership that they have the experience and expertise so that we don’t injure our bodies.”

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She continued, “Our bodies are our livelihood. It’s important that we feel comfortable to voice concerns and ask questions so we don’t get hurt.”

SCB’s board president Jennifer Tifft responded to the dancers’ accusations in a statement to CNY Central.

"The dancers have been using terms like 'unsafe work environment,' however, there is simply little specific evidence of such,” Tifft said. “Their initial complaint focused on one artistic staff member. That staff member was put on leave, and an independent HR expert was hired to conduct an investigation."

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Tifft added that the board made "meaningful changes" by placing the artistic director on paid leave.

The board president told the outlet that the upcoming performances will go on, and that two of the dancers who went on strike have returned to work.

The ballet will also rely on temporary dancers, including some from Alaska and California, to ensure the production goes on as scheduled, Syracuse.com reported.

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