DALLAS — The Dallas City Council voted Wednesday to send the issue of the next round of funding for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre back to a committee for further consideration amid concerns about the dance program’s recent firing of dancers.
“This is not a motion to deny the funding for Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT). It is instead a motion to defer a decision on it in light of the need for further input from the allocations committee and further recommendation by the quality of life committee, at which time it will come back to the full council for final decision," said Dallas City Council Member Paul Ridley.
The Dallas City Council’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee earlier this week voted against recommending allocating about $248,000 to Dallas Black Dance Theatre for 2024-2025.
“What I don’t want to happen is that because of this moment, this forever becomes the stain on the Dallas Black Dance Theatre," said Dallas City Council Member Zarin D. Gracey.
A group of DBDT 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.
In a letter to the Dallas City Council, DBDT said "The decision to rescind these contracts had no connection to the dancers’ vote to unionize."
The organization claims some dancers violated the company's social media policy.
"Our policies explicitly state that any violations will result in immediate termination, and we were compelled to act accordingly to protect the integrity and reputation of the organization," the letter read.
After the fired dancers were replaced, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s season-opening show “DanceAfrica” earlier this month was met with pickets and protestors.
“We want to thank the Dallas City Council for investigating what happened to us and considering meaningful action to help," said Terrell Rogers, a former DBDT dancer.
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.”
“We feel that a step toward justice has been taken and we’re going to continue that fight," said Rogers.
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.
“Looking at those documents, that collection of exhibits, that was a revelation," said Willis.
Read the full report from the Dallas City Inspector General on the Dallas Black Dance Theatre firings below: