Union Busting Scandal Rocks Dallas Black Dance Theatre & Energizes Nationwide Creative Labor Movement

Dallas, Texas –& A firestorm is brewing in the arts community as the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) faces allegations of union-busting following the dismissal of its entire main company. The dancers, represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), claim they were terminated in retaliation for their decision to unionize.The dismissal came just months after the dancers voted unanimously to unionize with the AGMA. The theater’s initial statement attributed the terminations to a playful video, posted to the dancers’ self-run social media account on June 21, 2024, that allegedly violated contractual terms and artistic standards. “Because this video violates our company policies for use of our name, brand, and does not reflect the organization’s values, we had an immediate and negative impact on our public image,” DBDT Executive Director Zenetta Drew recently told Dance Magazine.The theater claims the June video displays the recently dismissed dancers in violation of several policies, including performing provocative dance moves, displaying the theater’s official branding and headshots without authorization, and using their personal phones while in studio and on company time.Members of the community protest Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s dismissal of main company dancers and theatre’s holding of auditions | Credit: Sam JudyHowever,...