Owners of the Rockettes Deny Dancers Are Being Forced to Perform for Trump

Many of the dancers, however, are reportedly mourning the idea of performing for Trump. In a now-deleted post on Instagram, one Rockette wrote that when she heard the news she felt "embarrassed and disappointed."

"The women I work with are intelligent and are full of love and the decision of performing for a man that stands for everything we're against is appalling," she wrote, according to the New York Post.

The union that represents the iconic performers has apparently been getting similar complaints. An industry website, Broadway World, obtained an email that the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) sent to the Rockettes in its membership to address the outcry. "Any talk of boycotting this event is invalid, I'm afraid," the AGVA wrote. "We have been made aware of what is going on Facebook and other social media, however, this does not change anything unless Radio City has a change of heart. The ranting of the public is just that, ranting. Everyone has a right to an opinion, but this does not change your employment status for those who are full time."

The email continued, "If you are not full time, you do not have to sign up to do this work. If you are full time, you are obligated."

Based on the union email and reports from dancers who say they are being "forced" to perform, it appears that full-time union members are contractually required to perform at the inauguration. Larry Cary, a labor union lawyer based in New York, says that the Rockette's collective bargaining agreement with AGVA and their employer likely prohibits them from refusing to do the show.

"I do not know what is in their collective bargaining agreement," Cary emphasized. "But in general, employees must perform the work expected of them and grieve the dispute. There is an exception to this general rule having to do with safety. If there is a real, palpable threat or risk to a worker's life or limb the employee may refuse to perform the directed work."

According to Cary, Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act would protect any women who spoke out about performing at the inauguration—on social media or otherwise—but a boycott of the event could put their jobs on the line. "Without knowing the language of the contract I cannot be more specific, but as a labor lawyer for 35 years I can tell you that they are likely risking their employment because most contracts have a no strike clause, which prohibits a concerted work stoppage or refusal to work," Cary said.

However, the Madison Square Garden Company contradicted this. They announced this morning that the performance is optional, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "The Radio City Rockettes are proud to participate in the 58th Presidential Inaugural," the statement the publication received read. "For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural. It is always their choice. In fact, for the coming inauguration, we had more Rockettes request to participate than we have slots available. We eagerly await the inaugural celebrations."

It's not clear if this statement indicates that a policy change, based on pressure from the Rockettes and the public, has occurred and full-time workers are now no longer obligated to perform. The union email suggests that workers on seasonal contracts have the ability to "sign up" for specific events and full-time workers do not. According to The Wrap, there are about 36 Rockettes that perform at a given time, 12 of whom are full-time. Broadly reached out to both the Madison Square Garden Company and the American Guild of Variety Artists. They did not respond.