Dance • Opera • Theatre Policy

The Dance • Opera • Theatre (DOT) is Equity’s multidisciplinary engagement policy — providing engagers who are not regularly adhered to a scale agreement with access to Equity members and other professionally affiliated artists. What’s more, under the DOT, Equity members and other professionally affiliated artists can work on Equity contracts alongside non-professional artists who are not on contract.

The DOT provides flexibility for Engagers and Equity members who self-engage, supporting growth and work opportunities across the live performance industry.

Getting Started

Read the Policy

While many terms are the same across Dance, Opera, and Theatre, hours, fees, and other provisions vary across the three disciplines. Found at the end of the policy, Schedules A (Dance), B (Opera), and C (Theatre) contain the specific terms for each discipline.

Be sure to read the full policy so you’re familiar with and able to comply with all of its provisions.

DOT Material Terms

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Contact an Equity Business Representative

Please contact an Equity Business Representative early in your project development to discuss the production’s or activity’s eligibility under this Policy so we can assist you in contracting Artists.

If you have worked with a Business Rep before, please contact them directly with your project details.

If this is your first time engaging with Equity, send an email to busrep@caea.com to let us know what type of project you are developing (Theatre, Dance, or Opera) and the expected dates.

Submit a DOT Application Form

Engagers and independent producers must complete a DOT Application Form to engage Artists under the DOT.

Application form and requirements

Engager Responsibilities

It is the Engager’s responsibility to abide by and conform to the terms and conditions of the DOT.

Furthermore, the Engager has an obligation — under both the DOT and applicable provincial legislation — to create and maintain a safe and respectful workplace for all workers. This includes ensuring that workers can raise concerns without fear of reprisal and that any incidents of inappropriate behaviour are investigated promptly.

Safe and respectful workplace requirements

Contracting

Equity DOT contracts must be given to:

Equity members
Other professionally affiliated Artists (i.e. ACTRA, UDA)
Non-members (at the discretion of the Engager)

Processing fees

Engagers are expected to pay a $75 processing fee for each DOT contract. The processing fee may be waived — at Equity’s discretion — under certain circumstances, such as for workshops or Equity members who are self-engaging.

Types of DOT Productions

As Equity’s most flexible engagement policy, the DOT can be used for almost any kind of production, including:

Standard productions

Workshops

Development activities

One-offs

Concerts/recitals

Equity members working at educational institutions

Equity members self-engaging

Compare the Engagement Policies

What's not included?

Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) projects — generally intended for schools or groups of students — aren’t permitted under the DOT.

Learn more about TYA projects under the Independent Theatre Agreement

In this section

Dance • Opera • Theatre Policy

Getting Started

Read the Policy

DOT Material Terms

Contact an Equity Business Representative

Submit a DOT Application Form

Engager Responsibilities

Contracting

Processing fees

Types of DOT Productions

What's not included?

In this section

Application Form

Auditions

Security and Deductions

Fees and Prorating

Safe and Respectful Workplace Requirements

Riders

Educational Institutions

Self-Engaging

Directors and Choreographers

Stage Fighting and Intimacy

Touring

Related Pages