The company posted about holding auditions only an hour before sending another notice that “a difficult management decision” was made about its previous dancers.
DALLAS — Drama is brewing within a renowned Dallas dance program and its now-former dancers.
A group of former Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) dancers posted to social media on Friday that they had been terminated after forming a union in late May and joining the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).
In an earlier statement shared in late June, the group of unionized dancers claim, mere that days after creating their union, DBDT held its annual “The Big Dance” fundraising event on June 1 that historically includes short performances by the company. The group said then that “DBDT leadership suddenly announced that, for the first time, departing dancers would not be allowed to attend The Big Dance event without purchasing their own expensive ticket.”
“This profoundly disrespectful decision was a major departure from past practices and dealt a significant blow to company morale,” the group said in a press release. “What a coincidence that leadership made this hurtful decision only after we voted to unionize with AGMA.”
The group further added that dancers who had been selected in DBDT’s April auditions were not offered contracts to replace the company’s four departing dancers. The group also said the morale was further “deflated” by the prospect of the remaining 10 dancers being asked to do the work of 14, citing concerns for their safety, health and well-being.
Ten dancers then became nine, the group said, after a 14-season veteran dancer was allegedly terminated from their position. The group then alleged that the remaining dancers were told they would “no longer be permitted to teach in the DBDT Academy or lead student ensembles – work that has historically been done by company dancers and was already offered to us for next season.”
Earlier this week, the dancers announced via a social media post that the AGMA then filed for unfair labor practice charges against DBDT.
On Friday, however, DBDT posted on Instagram that it would be holding auditions for a nearly 10-month contract with the company — just an hour before another post stating “a difficult management decision” was made involving the now-former dancers of the program.
Reads that social post:
“Dallas Black Dance Theatre made a difficult management decision today pertaining to our dancers. It is a decision that DBDT does not take lightly, but one that is necessary to preserve our legacy of professionalism and excellence in dance. Unfortunately, we recently discovered that our dancers engaged in conduct that fails to align with DBDT’s standard of performing at the highest level of artistic excellence and violates several of DBDT’s policies. As a result, the actions are necessary to preserve DBDT’s public standing.”
Three hours after DBDT’s statement, the unionized group, in a joint posts with AGMA, responded on social media with their own comments:
“AGMA is aware that Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) leadership just terminated all their dancers, and we are appalled. This abrupt and shocking development is the latest in a series of actions the Company has taken since the dancers voted unanimously to unionize. Moreover, DBDT swiftly disabling comments on their notably vague social media statement speaks volumes. The entire AGMA membership has these dancers’ backs and we will do everything in our power to protect their rights as artists and workers. We will have more to say, but let this be the start.”
DBDT’s auditions are scheduled for Aug. 17.
WFAA has reached out to the Dallas Black Dance Theatre for additional comment regarding its alleged termination of its entire dance troupe. We will update this story should they respond.
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