A timeline of the conflict between Dallas Black Dance Theater and fired dancers, union

Dallas Black Dance Theater has been in a conflict with dancers for months after voting unanimously in May to join the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Dancers say the company has retaliated against their unionization efforts with actions such as firing a dancer and cutting off their supplemental income streams. Now the National Labor Relations Board has upheld the union’s allegations against the company.

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

April 30, 2024: AGMA informs dance company management that a majority of dancers have given the union permission to represent them.

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

June 3, 2024: AGMA files unfair labor practice charges against the dance company.

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

July 15, 2024: The dance company is firing Sean Smith, a principal dancer and company rehearsal director who has worked with the company for fourteen years.

August 1, 2024: AGMA files additional unfair labor practice charges against the dance company.

From left to right, Elijah Lancaster, Nile Ruff, Terrell Rogers, Gillian Clifford and Sean J. Smith, dancers recently fired from the Dallas Black Dance Theater, pose for a photo at Arts Mission Oak Cliff in Dallas on Thursday, August 29, 2024 AGMA , which represents the fired dancers, says it is a response to the efforts of the dancers' unions. DBDT says the firings are due to an Instagram reel by the dancers that violated company policy. — From left to right, Elijah Lancaster, Nile Ruff, Terrell Rogers, Gillian Clifford and Sean J. Smith, dancers recently fired from the Dallas Black Dance Theater, pose for a photo at Arts Mission Oak Cliff in Dallas on Thursday, August 29, 2024 AGMA , which represents the fired dancers, says it is a response to the efforts of the dancers’ unions. DBDT says the firings are due to an Instagram reel by the dancers that violated company policy.

August 9, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater fires its entire main company of dancers and posts an audition notice on Instagram. The dance company cites an Instagram video posted by the dancers as the reason for the dismissal. The dancers say they were fired because of their unionization efforts.

August 12, 2024: AGMA files more unfair labor practice charges against the dance company and issues a work ban. The order means members of AGMA and other unions such as Actors’ Equity could face consequences such as fines or loss of union membership if they work for the dance company.

August 17, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater is holding auditions to replace its fired dancers. Nearly 200 protesters march outside the building during auditions.

Tevita Uhatafe (front) joins union members, elected officials and community allies in a rally toward Dallas Black Dance Theater with the theater dancers, Saturday, August 17, 2024, in Dallas. Dancers from the Dallas Black Dance Theater were fired over an Instagram video, which the union says is a response to the unionization of dancers.

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

September 10, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater files suit against AGMA.

October 11, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater holds the first performance of the season, DanceAfrica. Dozens of protesters from labor organizations including the Dallas AFL-CIO, Actors’ Equity Association, Young Active Labor Leaders and American Federation of Musicians picket outside the Moody Performance Hall. Those pickets also hand out flyers explaining what happened to the fired dancers. AGMA says they will picket every performance of the dance company.

October 7, 2024: The Inspector General Division of the Dallas City Attorney’s Office releases a 348-page report detailing the findings of an investigation into the firing of dancers earlier this year. The report includes a timeline of events surrounding the dismissals, as well as evidence including dismissal letters, the dance company’s handbook and interviews with dismissed dancers, union representatives and DBDT board chair Georgia Scaife.

October 23, 2024: The Dallas City Council has halted funding of about $248,000 to the dance company over concerns about laying off dancers.

October 28, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater expresses their interest in reaching a settlement.

October 29, 2024: Dallas Black Dance Theater and AGMA meet to discuss the settlement.

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