Australian Ballet dancers to take first industrial action in more than four decades

Callum Linnane and Sharni Spencer in the Australian Ballet’s recent production of Romeo and Juliet. A full-on strike by dancers has not been ruled out. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Dancers of the Australian Ballet will take industrial action for the first time in more than four decades, after negotiations with management over a new workplace agreement reached an impasse on Monday.

Dancers will “hold the curtain” at this Friday’s performance in Melbourne, meaning the show Identity, a program of two original works, will be delayed by 15 minutes.