“American capitalism tells a story: we run on businesses. Big ones and small ones, conglomerates and mom-and-pops making deals with each other. This is the story that feeds the gig economy, that we can all be owners, businesses, entrepreneurs. In that story, however, there is a word missing: worker. The American worker presents a problem. Employers want as much control as they can over how and when workers do their jobs. Workers also want things. They want flexibility, benefits, security, and good pay. In the traditional economy, neither gets everything they want, the whole pie. The gig economy promises it all. They just have to shed their old skins and become something new. Workers can become independent contractors, working when and how they want, get pay and security without a boss. Employers can get all the control they want. But, is this a mirage, or worse, just another version of an old trick being played on workers? FedEx had to settle in 2016 after three different courts ruled that they had deliberately misclassified their Ground and Home delivery drivers as independent contractors. Uber, (in 2022) and Lyft (in 2016) have settled similar misclassification suits in California. Is the gig economy just another case of misclassification? Or is it truly different, a truer realization of the American story? When we gig, are we getting the whole pie or just a Snack?” (excerpt from “snack” playbill)
“snack” is a collection of short dances (snack-sized) that explore the American gig economy and its effects on society, families and individuals. The premise of the piece is the definition of a snack itself: a tiny morsel, not intended to fully satisfy. Like a snack, a gig is impermanent and only meant to get you from one to the next.
“snack” is a portrait of life in America as both voluntary and involuntary gig workers fill up the economic ranks, and serves as a powerful statement on the massive societal shift taking place over one or two generations. “snack” will follow five dancers as they navigate the world within the gig economy without the social safety net and personal security that more “traditional” occupations provide.
“snack” premiered as part of the 2022 CAN Triennial located at The Pivot Center in Cleveland, Ohio on July 22nd & 23rd, 2022 in Inlet Dance Theatre’s studios. Presented by the Creative Destruction Collective, the team behind critically acclaimed contemporary ballet “FEAST,” “snack” is choreographed, produced and directed by Christina Lindhout with support from Sabrina Lindhout, writing and research by Marc Lefkowitz, administrative support by Dalindyebo Shabalala, art, costumes and co-produced by Corrie Slawson, photography by Shawnae Neujahr with “snack” playbill artwork designs by Joey Goergen, and poetry by Amy Hughes.
Read the full “snackzine” here.
Christina Lindhout 