The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) has officially issued a Do Not Work Order for Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT). This decisive action was unanimously approved by the AGMA Board of Governors on Monday, August 12. It follows a disturbing pattern of escalating actions by DBDT leadership against their dancers since they unanimously voted to unionize with AGMA in May. The situation reached a critical point on Friday, August 9, when the company took the extreme step of terminating all its dancers.
"As we’ve alleged in charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board, this is clearly retaliation for unionizing," stated AGMA President Ned Hanlon. "A Do Not Work Order is not something AGMA issues lightly. It is reserved for the most egregious actions taken against our artists, and I can’t recall the last time AGMA had to issue such an order. What is happening to the dancers of DBDT, who stood united for a voice in their workplace, is one of the most extreme cases we’ve ever encountered."
"Our entire membership – Dancers, Singers, Staging Staff, and Educators around the country – stand in solidarity with these courageous dancers," President Hanlon continued. "We will use every tool at our disposal to send a clear message—not just to Dallas Black Dance Theatre, but to any company that might consider this kind of injustice."
On August 1, AGMA filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), addressing multiple alleged violations of federal law by DBDT leadership in response to the Company's blatant actions. The Union has now filed an additional unfair labor practice charge about the mass termination and is seeking an immediate injunction to put the fired dancers back to work.
DBDT management has attempted to justify the mass firing by claiming that the dancers engaged in misconduct that violated company policies. However, the so-called "misconduct" in question was nothing more than a playful and engaging Instagram Reel that the dancers created after rehearsal finished on June 21 to introduce their account. It is worth noting that the dancers received their signed letters of intent for the 2024-2025 season after this post had already been shared.
What this Means for AGMA Members:
This Do Not Work Order means that AGMA members, as well as members of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America, more commonly known as the 4As, which includes Actors' Equity and SAG-AFTRA, among others, are prohibited from performing any services for Dallas Black Dance Theatre until the order is lifted and the company agrees to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with our union. Violating this order may subject members to discipline, including fines or expulsion. This includes auditioning for DBDT.
But let’s be clear—this is not about penalties; it's about solidarity. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. When an employer retaliates against workers who stand together for their rights, they challenge the very principles of fairness, respect, and dignity that the artists of our union fight for every day. Now is the time for unity. By standing strong and honoring this Do Not Work Order, we send a powerful message: we will not tolerate injustice, and we will not allow our fellow members to be targeted for demanding what is right.
Together, we protect one another, and together, we will prevail.