DALLAS — Dallas Black Dance Theatre may not receive its next round of funding amid concerns about the dance program’s recent firing of dancers.
The Dallas City Council’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee Monday voted against allocating about $248,000 to Dallas Black Dance Theatre for 2024-2025.
A group of Dallas Black Dance Theatre dancers said on social media in August that they’d been fired and subsequently replaced after forming a union in late May and joining the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). The company, though, cited a video posted to social media as the reason for the firing.
After the fired dancers were replaced, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s season-opening show “DanceAfrica” earlier this month was met with pickets and protestors.
Dallas City Council member Gay Donnell Willis, who serves on the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee said Monday that the National Labor Relations Board is looking into the issue and the city council planned to wait to determine funding for the company after seeing “disturbing practices.”
The National Labor Relations Board is reviewing unfair labor practice charges filed against the dance company in June and August. The dance company filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union in September.
“We’re buying some time..to get findings from the National Labor Relations Board and be able to understand the board of directors’ actions at this nonprofit organization,” Willis said. “Will this be taken seriously? Will it be disregarded? I mean, I don’t know. I hope it’s taken seriously.”
Dallas City Council member Paul Ridley said he was concerned about the lack of response from the company’s leadership.
“I think we need to send a strong message to this organization,” Ridley said. “I am strongly in support of workers in general and the rights to organize as a labor union and I think that has been damaged by this instance.”
WFAA has reached out to Dallas Black Dance Theatre for comment. We'll update this article as new information becomes available.
