Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas, is set to replenish its ranks this Saturday after a recent controversy.
The company announced over the weekend on Instagram that it had made the “difficult decision” to terminate its Main Company dancers following the emergence of a video that allegedly breached their contractual terms and the company’s standards of artistic excellence.
Derick McKoy, who was entering his third season with the company, expressed his confusion over the situation. He and his colleagues received nearly identical termination letters via email on Friday. The letters cited violations of company policy, including inappropriate cell phone use in the studio and “vulgarity” in the video.
The video in question, posted on an Instagram account managed by the dancers, was intended to introduce the performers to the public and was set to the Family Matters theme song. McKoy noted that a similar video had been shared by the company in 2022.
McKoy and others believe the issue goes beyond the video itself, suggesting that the terminations may be related to the dancers’ recent efforts to form a union. Griff Braun, National Organizing Director at the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), accused the company of retaliating against the dancers for seeking to voice their concerns and form a union.
In response, DBDT leadership has denied any retaliatory motives. Georgia Scaife, President of the DBDT Board, stated that the decision to release the dancers was based solely on the video’s content, which allegedly violated company policies and undermined their standards.
Scaife added that as the company moves forward with auditions, it remains committed to working with the union and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is reviewing unfair labor practice charges filed by AGMA on behalf of the dancers.
DBDT expressed disappointment with AGMA’s decision to issue a “do not work order,” which restricts union members from auditioning. AGMA has planned a rally for the dancers and a picket outside the auditions at One Arts Plaza at 1 p.m.
As the company navigates this dispute and seeks to fill its positions, dancers like McKoy are left to decide their next steps, with McKoy personally evaluating whether to remain in Dallas or relocate.
Previously, NBC5 has been a sponsor of Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
