Super Bowl 2022: Dancers call for change amid outrage over unpaid halftime gigs
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With millions of viewers tuning in to the Super Bowl each year, the Pepsi halftime show is one of the most coveted gigs for a performer.
However, according to industry professionals who have been speaking out on social media, trading in “free” time and skills for “exposure” is no longer cutting it — even to dance for hip-hop greats like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar.
This year’s head halftime choreographer, Fatima Robinson (whose credits include Michael Jackson, Aaliyah and the Backstreet Boys), revealed via Instagram that she is “happy to be hiring 115 paid dancers for the Super Bowl this year…..the most ever hired” to dance alongside the featured artists onstage.
However, that number doesn’t account for the hundreds of others who will be joining the paid dancers on the field for free. Page Six has obtained copies of the alleged requests that went out to professional dancers — many whom have years of experience — asking for “pre-dominantly African American movers” to “volunteer” for halftime.
Page Six has obtained copies of the alleged texts sent out to professional dancers asking them to volunteer their time and skills for free. Courtesy of Melany Centeno
The alleged screenshots from various recruiters and LA’s Bloc Talent Agency reveal that those volunteering are expected to attend mandatory rehearsals for up to nine hours a day, with no transportation provided. “Glee” star Heather Morris, Carmit Bachar of the Pussycat Dolls and Alyson Stoner (who appeared in Eminem’s “Just Lose It” music video) have since spoken out on the matter via social media.
“It’s not uncommon that the Super Bowl brings forth field local volunteers to be concertgoers for the Super Bowl experience just to deepen the production quality and value and the attention,” Taja Riley — who performed at halftime with Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Coldplay in 2016 and with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020 — told Page Six.
“These are things that are pretty common in the industry, but what is not common is a coordinator or production or producer reaching out to professional talent to hire them as volunteers and working them for the amount of time that they are requesting.”
Throughout her 16+ years in the industry, Taja Riley has danced alongside artists like Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, NERD and Nicki Minaj. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Melany Centeno, who has danced professionally for over a decade with artists like Kanye West, Blige, Pink and Pitbull, was one of the many dancers who allegedly received DMs about the volunteer gig and found the requests insulting.
“My immediate response was no, I’ll never dance for Super Bowl for free … they have money to pay people. And I don’t know why they would sit here and front like nine days of rehearsal is needed for people to just file into a stadium. That’s a lot, they’re lying,” she told Page Six regarding the casting call stating that field crew would only be doing “limited” choreography.
“It’s just like, you guys want to go into the antics about this, and try to find some type of loophole to justify what this is. But this is, at the root, exploitation,” she continued. “It’s coming to light that in the past when the Super Bowl has done this, that these [field] people end up dancing.”
Field crew volunteers are expected to attend mandatory rehearsals and provide their own transportation. Courtesy of Melany Centeno
Both Riley and Centeno alleged that Robinson must be “aware” of the situation, given how many dancers have reached out to her and tagged her in social posts about it.
They also alleged she has a history of bringing on dancers to work for free. Centeno claimed she experienced it firsthand during West’s Sunday Service for Coachella in 2019.
“There were volunteer dancers to help make it a bigger moment … but the ‘paid’ professional dancers and volunteers were in all the same rehearsals. Basically did the same amount of work and drove themselves to Indio, Calif.,” she said.
Choreographer Fatima Robinson previously worked with Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas for the Super Bowl XLV halftime show in 2011. WireImage
Riley told Page Six she was allegedly blocked by Robinson when she reached out to her to discuss this year’s Super Bowl. At the end of the day, she just wants Robinson — who worked alongside her father, musician Teddy Riley — to “do the right thing.”
“This is such an amazing Super Bowl, to be happening during Black History Month and to showcase black art, black culture and predominantly highlighting black talent … so if you’re going to be a leader of a community, now is the time, if anything, to step up and be called in, to do whatever it is that you can do to forward the movement,” Riley advised.
Taja Riley (bottom left) performing halftime with Jennifer Lopez in 2020. Courtesy of Taja Riley
“We’re at a space where we are being overexploited as dance art is being overused, overworked and then undervalued and underpaid. I think the next step really is who will stand up like, how loud do we have to get … to bring more awareness to the mistreatment of dance artists,” she continued. “We should be raising the bar now and holding ourselves accountable, especially when we’ve accepted these oppressive ways and practices for so long.”
Centeno expressed similar sentiments, telling Page Six, “I think in general the dance industry has just come to this place where we’re just sick and tired of a lot of this. Because it’s not just people asking us to dance for free — it’s also these rates [for dancers] haven’t changed in 20 years.”
In addition to Robinson, Riley is calling on Super Bowl LVI halftime show executive producer Jesse Collins along with this year’s headliners to make changes.
“When it comes to the Super Bowl, there is enough money that can go around. The real question is, who is the person that gets to pull the plug? Who is the person that gets to counsel up and get the approval?” she said. “I think that you have to definitely leave it to the point person producer that is putting their name on it … and that would be Jesse Collins, who happens to be an African American man and leader in our cultural community of the industry.”
Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar are headlining this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. Pepsi
Riley said it would also be “so amazing” to see the halftime performers stepping up to the plate.
“Mary J. Blige has a heart of gold, and personally, just knowing Snoop Dogg, I know he does. I don’t know Marshall Mathers [Eminem] personally, but I know he’s, like, amazing … and he knows how hard it is to come up in this world,” Riley explained.
“So I feel like somebody can do something. Ideally it would be getting these people paid,” she continued. “I think that if it’s not for Fatima, I think if anybody’s personal camp could even just provide something for these Inglewood volunteers, whether it’s Beats by Dre, everybody gets Beats, or downsizing the rehearsals days … I want nothing more than this to just change. It would be so monumental.”
Page Six also spoke with Keenan Williams — currently a hype performer for the Orlando Magic basketball team — who volunteered as a field dancer for last year’s Super Bowl halftime show with The Weeknd. He took the unpaid gig for exposure, seeing it as an opportunity that could help boost his resume for future paid dance jobs.
While Williams said being part of the production was “a dream” and gave him more “confidence” as a dancer, he admitted the long hours spent in rehearsals — all amid the coronavirus pandemic — were grueling at times.
“We had about eight 10-hour-long rehearsals,” said Williams, who was responsible for finding his own transportation and a place to stay while in Tampa, Fla. “It was definitely a big eye-opening experience for me to be like, ‘Wow, this is what it’s like to be working with celebrities as a background dancer.’ It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
As for whether he’d consider doing it again? Probably not without a stipend, Williams told us.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘Man, I would definitely love to do that again!’ for the experience itself and being able to network with other dancers,” he explained.
“But also as artists, we have to have self-worth and a price for ourselves. Exposure doesn’t pay bills, and it is frustrating.”
When reached out for comment, Roc Nation released the following statement to Page Six:
“As Executive Producers of the Halftime Show, we know firsthand the level of passion, talent, creativity, and long days of preparation it takes to pull off a performance of this caliber and so it’s important that we address the current narrative. We completely agree that all dancers should be compensated for their craft and that is why we are employing the 115 professional dancers performing alongside the headliners. The professional dancers are completely separate from the volunteer-based, non-choreographed field cast. As in years past, it is completely up to the volunteer candidates to participate. No one working with this show contacted an agency to request professional dancers to volunteer. Lastly, we strictly follow and adhere to all SAG-AFTRA guidelines.”
Reps for Robinson, Tia Rivera, Bloc Agency, the NFL, Pepsi, Collins and the featured halftime artists did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Super Bowl LVI kicks off Sunday, Feb. 13, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
When is Super Bowl 2022: Date, TV channel, halftime show, time, live stream for NFL Super Bowl LVI
]
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
The NFL Playoffs are underway which means that Super Bowl 2022 is right around the corner. NBC Sports has you covered with all you need to know about the Big Game this year including the date, time, how to watch, location, halftime show and so much more!
RELATED: NFL playoff schedule 2022: Bracket, dates, times, TV channel, scores
In the meantime, click here to see the full NFL playoffs schedule, bracket, postseason results and more. Plus, be sure to check out ProFootballTalk for more on the Super Bowl and NFL Playoffs including news, rumors, injury reports, game previews, recaps and more.
When is Super Bowl 2022?
Super Bowl 56 will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles–the home of the Chargers and Rams. The NFL adopted a new 17-game schedule this season which pushes the Super Bowl back by one week and into the middle of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about the 2022 Winter Olympics: Dates, athletes, more
Who will perform the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show?
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar will perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. The Weeknd headlined the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, FL.
How to watch the Super Bowl this year: TV channel, live stream
Super Bowl 2022 will be televised by NBC and will be available to stream live on Peacock or with the NBC Sports App. NBC was originally scheduled to broadcast the 2021 game and CBS had the 2022 Super Bowl, but the two networks decided to swap years in order for NBC to have both the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics in 2022.
Super Bowl 2022 odds
According to PointsBet as of January 23, the Kansas City Chiefs are a +125 favorite to win it all followed by the Los Angeles Rams at +200. Next are the San Francisco 49ers at +475 and finally the Cincinnati Bengals at +750.
Future Super Bowl dates and locations
2023: Super Bowl LVII
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
2024: Super Bowl LVIII
Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
2025: Super Bowl LIX
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA
RELATED: Where is Super Bowl 2022? Location, date, stadium, city, halftime show, odds, TV channel, live stream, future sites
Who won the Super Bowl last year?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LV in 2021.
Why does the NFL use Roman numerals for the Super Bowl?
In June of 1966, the NFL and AFL agreed to merge for the 1970 season, but until then, both leagues would meet in a championship game after their respective seasons had ended. Since their seasons took place in the fall and this new game would be played in the new year, organizers decided to assign each edition a number instead of a year to avoid confusion.
Be sure to follow along with ProFootballTalk and NBC Sports for Super Bowl 2022 news, updates, scores, and more!
Rap gods unite in epic Super Bowl 2022 Halftime show trailer, ‘The Call’
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If the Justice League were full of hip-hop greats, it would be these legends.
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are coming together to perform at this year’s Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on Feb. 13.
But to tide viewers over for this spectacular lineup of rap superstars, Pepsi dropped a cinematic-style trailer for the show titled “The Call.”
“Straight Outta Compton” director F. Gary Gray collaborated with the five performers to create an epic teaser to get fans hyped for the football party. The trailer is scored by Grammy award-winning writer Adam Blackstone.
The clip features Dr. Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Blige and Lamar and their greatest hits. It’s inspired by their iconic music videos and showcases the impact that the Fab Five have had on pop culture over the last two decades.
“Now that we are just weeks away from the most anticipated Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show performance of all time, we’re bringing fans closer to the magic of what will certainly be a colossal moment in pop culture history,” Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing at Pepsi said in a statement.
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are coming together to perform at this year’s Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on Feb. 13. PepsiCo
In the teaser, the scenes move between each of the musicians and their respective coasts. First, we see Eminem coming face-to-face with his rap persona, Slim Shady, mouthing the words to his hit single “Rap God” as well as Snoop driving in his car while jamming out to the song “The Next Episode.”
The next shot shows Blige getting her hair and makeup done while her infectious hit “Family Affair” plays in the background. Lamar then pops up on the screen, writing down lyrics for his next album. His song “Humble” can be heard.
Each musician then gets a call from Dr. Dre to unite at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, where the football game will be taking place.
Dre then walks along the beach and a piano lays in the water. He finally meets up with his four friends and frequent collaborators on a plane tarmac. Tupac Shakur’s iconic single “California Love” plays as they join together.
The clip is dripping in rap history: “The Next Episode,” “California Love” and “Family Affair” were all produced and featured Dr. Dre. “Rap God” and “Humble” were churned out under the Beats entrepreneur’s label, Aftermath.
“Each time I collaborate with Dre, it seems to mark an important moment in entertainment history, from projects like ‘Friday,’ ‘Set It Off,’ ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ to now the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show,” Gray said. “As a super fan, I consider it an honor and privilege to authentically build and create this moment with five of the most legendary artists in music history.”
When is Super Bowl 2022: Date, TV channel, halftime show, time, live stream for NFL Super Bowl LVI
]
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
The NFL Playoffs are underway which means that Super Bowl 2022 is right around the corner. NBC Sports has you covered with all you need to know about the Big Game this year including the date, time, how to watch, location, halftime show and so much more!
RELATED: NFL playoff schedule 2022: Bracket, dates, times, TV channel, scores
In the meantime, click here to see the full NFL playoffs schedule, bracket, postseason results and more. Plus, be sure to check out ProFootballTalk for more on the Super Bowl and NFL Playoffs including news, rumors, injury reports, game previews, recaps and more.
When is Super Bowl 2022?
Super Bowl 56 will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles–the home of the Chargers and Rams. The NFL adopted a new 17-game schedule this season which pushes the Super Bowl back by one week and into the middle of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about the 2022 Winter Olympics: Dates, athletes, more
Who will perform the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show?
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar will perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. The Weeknd headlined the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, FL.
How to watch the Super Bowl this year: TV channel, live stream
Super Bowl 2022 will be televised by NBC and will be available to stream live on Peacock or with the NBC Sports App. NBC was originally scheduled to broadcast the 2021 game and CBS had the 2022 Super Bowl, but the two networks decided to swap years in order for NBC to have both the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics in 2022.
Super Bowl 2022 odds
According to PointsBet as of January 23, the Kansas City Chiefs are a +125 favorite to win it all followed by the Los Angeles Rams at +200. Next are the San Francisco 49ers at +475 and finally the Cincinnati Bengals at +750.
Future Super Bowl dates and locations
2023: Super Bowl LVII
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
2024: Super Bowl LVIII
Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
2025: Super Bowl LIX
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA
RELATED: Where is Super Bowl 2022? Location, date, stadium, city, halftime show, odds, TV channel, live stream, future sites
Who won the Super Bowl last year?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LV in 2021.
Why does the NFL use Roman numerals for the Super Bowl?
In June of 1966, the NFL and AFL agreed to merge for the 1970 season, but until then, both leagues would meet in a championship game after their respective seasons had ended. Since their seasons took place in the fall and this new game would be played in the new year, organizers decided to assign each edition a number instead of a year to avoid confusion.
Be sure to follow along with ProFootballTalk and NBC Sports for Super Bowl 2022 news, updates, scores, and more!
The NFL should change the Super Bowl LVI logo before it freaks everybody out
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The logos for Super Bowls through time have been both great and garish, but they usually aren’t… well, grisly. But in the case of the logo for the upcoming Super Bowl LVI, it’s hard to see what appears to be some sort of CSI scene as opposed to nice palm trees representing Los Angeles, the Super Bowl’s host city this time around.
Maybe don’t make the trees red, guys.
I know those are supposed to be trees, but it looks as if the Super Bowl LVI logo was involved in something grisly. pic.twitter.com/1vL4etZ227 — Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 23, 2022
I wasn’t the only one who saw it this way.
What’s up with the blood-drenched super Bowl logo this year? Freddy Krueger flips the coin? pic.twitter.com/HYRBXQPPDL — Scott Sigler (@scottsigler) January 23, 2022
NFL, you have a coupe weeks to avoid freaking everybody out before the Super Bowl pre-hype. Think of the children!