Concert Organizers Expose “World Of Street Woman Fighter” Dancer For Allegedly Controversial Demands
Japanese dancer Ibuki from Osaka Ojo Gang, the winning crew of World of Street Woman Fighter, has been confirmed to be sitting out the upcoming World of Street Woman Fighter concert in Busan.
On Tuesday, the concert organizer, Route59, announced the withdrawal on September 9, KST. However, the two parties released two different statements, relaying the circumstances of the dispute.
Route59 stated that they spent several months coordinating Osaka Ojo Gang’s appearance at the concert, but faced difficulties in communicating with the crew’s manager. They also mentioned unfair contractual demands, such as the crew manager’s insistence on omitting performance fees from the contract and including undisclosed conditions that wouldn’t be shared with other crew members.
Initially, the agreement was that all seven members of the Osaka Ojo Gang would perform at the concert, but Ibuki reversed her decision on September 1, informing the organizers through her lawyers. She had cited health reasons for this decision.
On September 8, KST, Route59 announced Ibuki’s withdrawal from the concert. Three hours after the announcement, her lawyer expressed that she had a change of heart and told the organizers that she was willing to perform under the condition that the crew continue to work with the manager.
The organizers made it clear in their statement that it wasn’t their decision alone to announce Ibuki’s absence. The other six members of the crew couldn’t agree to renew the contract with the manager. Ibuki, on the other hand, released a statement saying that she was put in a situation where she wasn’t allowed to speak for herself while negotiating the contracted. She hired a Korean lawyer to try and reach an agreement.
This fallout between the organizers and Ibuki has blown into a controversy, with many fans enraged.
Meanwhile, starting in Seoul, the World of Street of Woman Fighter tour will head to Busan, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, and wrap up in Suwon this November with twelve shows in eleven cities.
