On Wednesday, Dallas City Council voted to grant $225,000 in funding for cultural programming to Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Last year, $248,000 in funding was cut in response to Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s settlement with the National Labor Relations Board. The agency found merit to dozens of unfair labor practice charges made against the company, including the firing of dancers due to union efforts.
Jack Skinner, chair of DBDT’s governance committee, said in a statement that the decision to restore the dance company’s funding will help them carry on their work for the next 50 seasons.
“The restoration of our funding from the City of Dallas is a vote of confidence that will enable the Dallas Black Dance Theatre to continue its mission and serve the community,” he said.
In the Wednesday meeting, council member Zarin D. Gracey said he’s appreciative of the changes the dance company has made following the settlement.
“I just want to publicly thank them for doing that tough work and making the tough decisions to continue moving forward, and congratulate them on being able to secure this funding through all of the tumultuous times,” he said.
Gracey also noted that the Office of Arts and Culture has updated its grant funding criteria to require applicants to disclose any legal disputes they’re involved in.
In March, the dance company formed an advisory stakeholder task force to review the company’s policies, governance and engagement with employees. In September, the task force provided recommendations, which DBDT’s board of directors unanimously accepted.
The recommendations include finding a new executive director, setting term limits for board members, updating the employee handbook, social media and public relations policies, and increasing engagement with company alumni.
On Oct. 20, the City Council’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture committee discussed concerns about holding Dallas Black Dance Theatre accountable to making changes. In the meeting, Lee McKinney, treasurer of DBDT’s board of directors, told council members the dance company is committed to making changes recommended by the task force.
“We have no desire to hold on to old things. We are excited about the recommendations that the task force has made. We are convicted that what they’ve said to us are things we need to do, and we are committed to making sure those things happen,” she said.
During the October meeting, McKinney also said the search for a new executive director to succeed Zenetta Drew, who has been in the position for nearly four decades, will begin in January and is expected to take two to three months. McKinney assured council members changes to leadership – including the executive director, board president and board members – would occur before the end of the season next May.
“We are willing to give progress reports, whatever is needed to get the community, the city and all the public aware that change is underway at Dallas Black Dance Theatre,” she said.
On Oct. 22, DBDT’s board of directors sent a memorandum to the City Council noting other changes being made at DBDT including: replacing board President Georgia Scaife on Jan. 1, establishing term limits for the board of directors, and updating bylaws and the employee handbook.
In May 2024, dancers at the company unanimously voted to unionize with the American Guild of Musical Artists. Following their unionization, DBDT and AGMA were in a monthslong dispute which ended with DBDT settling with the National Labor Relations Board for over $560,000.
DBDT is still in talks with the American Guild of Musical Artists to reach a collective bargaining agreement.
Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.
