Monday, February 17, 2025

AGMA Points a Do Not Work Order as Fired Dallas Black Dance Theatre Dancers Search Reinstatement

9 former Dallas Black Dance Theatre main-company members are looking for reinstatement after the corporate fired them in an obvious try at union busting. The still-unfolding state of affairs led the American Guild of Musical Artists to difficulty a Do Not Work Order on August 12, prohibiting AGMA, Actors’ Fairness Affiliation, and SAG-AFTRA members from performing providers for Dallas Black Dance Theatre till the corporate agrees to enter into collective bargaining with AGMA.

DBDT terminated all of its 2024–25 season dancers on August 9, shortly after posting a press release in regards to the choice and an audition discover for brand spanking new firm members on Instagram. “An hour later, the dancers had been all notified by electronic mail that they’d been terminated,” says Griff Braun, nationwide organizing director of AGMA. (Requests for remark from the dancers had been directed to AGMA.)

Inside just a few hours, DBDT had eliminated feedback accusing the corporate of union busting and restricted commenting on Fb and Instagram. On Monday, additionally they altered their assertion. Based on the brand new publish, issued by the board of administrators, the corporate terminated all main-company dancers for making a video that “violated their contractual phrases and our requirements of inventive excellence.” The assertion additional says the choice is unrelated to the dancers’ choice to unionize earlier this 12 months.

On June 21, the dancer-run Instagram account @dancersofdbdt had posted a satirical video filmed within the DBDT dance studios and parking zone. DBDT management confirmed to Dance Journal the video was the rationale for termination, citing firm insurance policies prohibiting private use of DBDT property and cellphone use within the constructing, amongst different contract violations.

However the dancers weren’t on contract once they had been terminated. Firm members had unanimously voted to unionize on Could 29, and AGMA had but to achieve an settlement with DBDT administration for the upcoming season. DBDT government director Zenetta Drew says parts of the video had been created whereas dancers had been working below a earlier contract.

“As a result of this video violates our firm insurance policies to be used of our title, model, and doesn’t mirror the group’s values, we had an instantaneous and adverse impression on our public picture,” says Drew.

Firm leaders say they realized of the video’s existence round July 25. AGMA says the dancers weren’t warned the video broke with firm insurance policies, nor had been they requested to take away it previous to being fired. Drew confirmed this and says contract language permits the corporate’s actions. In her 37-year tenure, she says dancers have been terminated with out warning—although by no means your complete firm without delay.

“We remorse the impression these incidents have had on these proficient dancers,” Drew says. “A lot of them have labored with us for a number of years. Nevertheless, as a enterprise we have now to make the top-line choice of what’s most vital.”

Based on Braun, the administration made modifications to established norms virtually instantly after the dancers unionized. Previously, as an example, dancers leaving DBDT had been invited to the corporate’s annual gala, The Huge Dance. For this 12 months’s gala, nonetheless, which befell June 1, three departing dancers had been instructed they’d should pay for his or her tickets. AGMA raised considerations on the time and was directed to the corporate’s lawyer.

DBDT held auditions in April, however somewhat than changing the three dancers who had chosen to depart on the finish of the season, the corporate opted to consolidate the variety of contracts. Ten returning dancers obtained letters of intent, the standard course of by which DBDT points season contracts. Based on Drew, the variety of dancers can fluctuate from season to season.

Veteran dancer and rehearsal director Sean Smith was amongst these planning to return; his provide of employment was revoked on July 15. DBDT wouldn’t talk about the rationale Smith was fired however stated it was unrelated to the video, which he had taken half in. Based on AGMA, the remaining firm dancers had been additionally instructed they had been not eligible to show within the firm’s college or lead its pre-professional ensembles.

On July 24, the dancers issued a public assertion requesting that Smith be reinstated. Within the assertion, they ask the administration to rent 4 new dancers, citing security considerations they declare would come up in a smaller firm, and to “decide to working…actually and collaboratively in bargaining to determine a robust first union contract.”

On August 1, AGMA filed unfair labor practices prices with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board. A brand new declare, filed on August 9, now seeks an instantaneous injunction to reinstate the fired dancers. AGMA wouldn’t remark additional on the main points of pending litigation. DBDT board president Georgia Scaife says the union has been in touch with the corporate’s attorneys.

Braun says the dancers wish to return to work and the union needs to barter with the practically 50-year-old establishment. “Within the brief time period, we’ve acquired a complete firm {of professional} dancers which are all of the sudden out of labor,” Braun says. “They obtained discover 10 days earlier than they had been to return and begin their season.”

The Do Not Work Order that AGMA issued Monday afternoon is, Braun and his colleagues say, unprecedented for the union. Late Tuesday afternoon, AGMA despatched out a name to reveal in Dallas on August 17. Members and supporters intend to stage a rally on the general public sidewalks exterior Dallas Black Dance Theatre whereas the corporate holds auditions.

“There is no such thing as a firm proper now,” says Braun. “And we don’t really feel anyone ought to audition for this firm below these circumstances.”  


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