Beyoncé Refuses To Pay Dancers' Agency Fees

Sources tell TMZ that Beyoncé is shooting several music videos in L.A. this week (most likely “Upgrade U” is one of them), which they’re told she is financing, not her label. Beyoncé’s choreographer, Frank Gatson, allegedly refused to work with any of the dancers’ agents on this job. By eliminating the middleman and dealing directly with the dancers, Beyoncé can pay them below standard wages. However, in order to maintain good working relationships, the production company for the project, RSA Films, has recently agreed to pay agency fees for some of the dancers.

A dancer cast in an A-list artist’s video can earn around $3000 for two rehearsal days and two shoot-days of work. Without agents fighting for their rights, the dancers on Beyoncé’s latest videos will earn less. While some dancers have boycotted the high-profile gig, others, willing to go around their agents, have been flown to L.A. and put up at hotels to work for the lower rates—just to say they danced for a megastar like Beyoncé.