Timeline of conflict between Dallas Black Dance Theater and fired dancers, union

On November 1, 2024By Karl

Dallas Black Dance Theater has been in a months-long dispute with dancers who voted unanimously to unionize with the American Guild of Musical Artists in May.

Dancers say the company has retaliated against them for their union efforts, with actions such as firing one dancer and cutting off additional revenue streams. Now the National Labor Relations Board has found the union’s charges against the company justified.

Here’s a timeline of what happened between the dancers and the dance company this year:

30 April 2024: AGMA notifies dance company management that a majority of dancers have authorized AGMA to represent them.

May 29, 2024: Dancers vote unanimously to unionize. The dance company does not voluntarily recognize the union. This leads dancers to seek recognition through National Labor Relations Board selection.

June 3, 2024: AGMA files an unfair business practice charge against the dance company.

July 1, 2024: Principal company dancers have signed letters of intent with Dallas Black Dance Theater for the 2024-2025 season.

July 15, 2024: The dance company fired Sean Smith, a principal company dancer and rehearsal director who had been with the company for 14 years.

From left to right, Elijah Lancaster, Nile Ruff, Terrell Rogers, Gillian Clifford and Sean J. Smith,... — From left, dancers Elijah Lancaster, Nile Ruff, Terrell Rogers, Gillian Clifford and Sean J. Smith, who were recently fired from Dallas Black Dance Theatre, pose for a photo at Arts Mission Oak Cliff on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Dallas. AGMA, which represents the fired dancers, says this is a response to the dancers’ union efforts. DBDT says the firings stemmed from an Instagram video the dancers made that violated company policies.(Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer)

1 August 2024: AGMA filed further unfair business practice charges against the dance company.

9 August 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater fires entire principal company Number of dancers and posts on an audition announcement on Instagram. The dance company cites a video shared by dancers on Instagram as the reason for the dismissal. The dancers say they were fired because of their union efforts.

12 August 2024: AGMA files further unfair labor practice charges against the dance company and issues a No Work Order. The decision means members of other unions such as AGMA and Actors’ Equity could face consequences such as fines or loss of union membership if they work for the dance company.

Tevita Uhatafe (front) with union members, elected officials and allies... — Tevita Uhatafe (front), along with union members, elected officials and allies from the community, attends a rally toward the Dallas Black Dance Theater with theater dancers on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Dallas. Dallas Black Dance Theater dancers were fired over an Instagram video that the union said was a reaction to the dancers unionizing.(Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

17 August 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater is holding auditions to replace fired dancers. Nearly 200 protesters marched Outside the building during auditions.

19 August 2024: The City Attorney’s Office’s Dallas County Inspector General Division received a request to investigate the firing of dancers at the company.

September 10, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater filed a criminal complaint against AGMA.

October 11, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater performs its first show of the season DanceAfrica. Dozens of protesters from labor organizationsThe Dallas AFL-CIO, including the Actors’ Equity Association, Young Active Labor Leaders and the American Federation of Musicians, picketed outside Moody Performance Hall. Strikers also distribute leaflets explaining what happened to the dancers who were fired. AGMA says they will watch every performance of the dance company.

October 7, 2024: The Dallas City Attorney’s Office Inspector General Division released a 348-page report containing the findings of its investigation into the firings of the dancers earlier this year. The report includes a timeline of events surrounding the firings, as well as evidence including termination letters, the dance company’s handbook, and interviews with the fired dancers, union representatives, and DBDT Chairman Georgia Scaife.

October 23, 2024: Dallas City Council pauses nearly $248,000 funding for the dance company due to concerns about dancers being fired.

October 28, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater says they want to reach an agreement.

October 29, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater and AGMA are meeting to discuss the agreement.

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