Longtime leader of Dallas Black Dance Theatre steps down after close to 4 decades
In a significant development, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) has accepted a series of recommendations from a task force aimed at modernizing the organization and addressing past issues. The task force, co-chaired by Jennifer Scripps, President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc., and Shawn Williams, vice president of public affairs at Allyn Media, was formed in the wake of a settlement for over $560,000 with the National Labor Relations Board.
The task force, consisting of 17 members including business, nonprofit, and arts leaders, split into three subcommittees tasked with reviewing the company's governance, branding, fundraising, and stakeholder relationships. Their report notes that unionized dancers will follow a handbook under a collective bargaining agreement once finalized with the American Guild of Musical Artists.
One of the key recommendations is for the board of directors to take a more proactive, visible role with the company. This includes staggering term limits for board members, setting expectations for board members for giving or receiving donations, and requiring board members to more actively oversee executive leadership. The board has unanimously accepted these recommendations.
The task force also proposed a succession plan for Zenetta Drew, the executive director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, given her pending retirement. Drew joined DBDT in 1987 and became executive director shortly after. Over the years, she helped the company raise millions of dollars, grow its school, and move into its current home.
The task force suggested clearly defining the roles of the artistic director and executive director to 'align with modern standards.' They also recommended updating the employee handbook between dancers and leadership and putting the document into an accessible digital format.
The task force further recommended making changes to modernize DBDT's policy regarding social media so both the board and dancers understand how it is used. This recommendation comes in the wake of the dismissal of 10 dancers and three whose offers of employment were rescinded in August 2024 for attempting to unionize, while DBDT said they had violated the company's social media policy.
Following the settlement, Dallas City Council cut about $248,000 in funding for cultural programming from the dance company for its 2024-25 season. However, the news comes as a positive step forward for the dance company, as an advisory task force has released a report charting a new path forward for the organization.
A national search for Drew's successor is scheduled to start in January. The search results do not provide information about which persons were furloughed with strike pay by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre or the reasons for their dismissal.
As Zenetta Drew prepares for her retirement, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre looks forward to implementing these recommendations and moving towards a brighter future.
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