Dance Theatre of Harlem Embroiled in Battle Over Civil Rights-Era History
The historic dance company, which was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell as a platform for African American ballerinas, is fighting in court to control its rich history. The dispute centers around 16 boxes of photographs that were donated by the company's former archivist, Judy Tyrus, and now reside at ChromaDiverse, a nonprofit organization she founded.
The photos, taken by Margaret Elizabeth "Marbeth" Schnare, document the company's early years and capture intimate moments of dancers practicing in the studio and dramatic shots from performances. However, Dance Theatre of Harlem claims that it has always owned the photographs and copyrights to the images, as well as the right to license them to third parties.
The dispute began after Tyrus published a book about the company's history in 2021, which included materials from the archive. The two parties had disagreements over the content of the book, and their relationship deteriorated. During this time, Schnare's heirs signed paperwork donating her entire photography collection to ChromaDiverse.
The ballet company now argues that it has been unable to share its history with the public due to the dispute, as well as block revenue from licensing the photographs to institutions like the Ford Foundation. The photos are seen as a valuable resource for chronicling the company's civil rights-era history.
In court documents, Dance Theatre of Harlem claims that Schnare never gave her heirs the right to donate the photos, and therefore, they have no ownership over them. ChromaDiverse counters that it has its own plans to license the photographs and that such licensing is an essential source of revenue for the organization.
A U.S. District Judge has agreed to rule on the request by Dance Theatre of Harlem's attorney, Melissa Holsinger, to dismiss Tyrus and Schnare's heirs from the lawsuit. The judge has stated that she will render her decision promptly.
The historic dance company, which was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell as a platform for African American ballerinas, is fighting in court to control its rich history. The dispute centers around 16 boxes of photographs that were donated by the company's former archivist, Judy Tyrus, and now reside at ChromaDiverse, a nonprofit organization she founded.
The photos, taken by Margaret Elizabeth "Marbeth" Schnare, document the company's early years and capture intimate moments of dancers practicing in the studio and dramatic shots from performances. However, Dance Theatre of Harlem claims that it has always owned the photographs and copyrights to the images, as well as the right to license them to third parties.
The dispute began after Tyrus published a book about the company's history in 2021, which included materials from the archive. The two parties had disagreements over the content of the book, and their relationship deteriorated. During this time, Schnare's heirs signed paperwork donating her entire photography collection to ChromaDiverse.
The ballet company now argues that it has been unable to share its history with the public due to the dispute, as well as block revenue from licensing the photographs to institutions like the Ford Foundation. The photos are seen as a valuable resource for chronicling the company's civil rights-era history.
In court documents, Dance Theatre of Harlem claims that Schnare never gave her heirs the right to donate the photos, and therefore, they have no ownership over them. ChromaDiverse counters that it has its own plans to license the photographs and that such licensing is an essential source of revenue for the organization.
A U.S. District Judge has agreed to rule on the request by Dance Theatre of Harlem's attorney, Melissa Holsinger, to dismiss Tyrus and Schnare's heirs from the lawsuit. The judge has stated that she will render her decision promptly.
. As an institution founded on promoting diversity and inclusivity, it's puzzling that they're fighting over photographs that document their early years and the struggles of African American ballerinas. The fact that they claim ownership over the photos without giving credit to the original archivist, Judy Tyrus, is quite concerning 
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. After all, these images are not only a testament to the company's history but also a valuable resource for understanding the civil rights era in the US 
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. I mean, who doesn't love a good history lesson? Dance Theatre of Harlem is like an iconic part of America's cultural heritage, and now they're fighting over the right to share their story with the world 
. I wish both parties could just put aside their differences and work together to share the history, rather than fighting over it 
. What's at stake here is not just a bunch of old photos, but the legacy of an entire company that paved the way for diversity in dance 
. I mean, 16 boxes of photos are just sitting there collecting dust, and this whole thing is over ownership? It's like they can't agree on how to share the love 
... ChromaDiverse thinks it can license those photos and make some serious cash, but Dance Theatre of Harlem wants all the rights to themselves 
. I hope the judge gets a handle on this soon, 'cause this drama is just making me want to take a nap 
And now its affecting the public's ability to learn about the company's legacy and contributions to the civil rights movement. That's just sad.
. It's not like Dance Theatre of Harlem just 'found' them or something. Judy Tyrus was their archivist, they were together for years, and now she donates the whole collection to ChromaDiverse? 
That doesn't add up. And what's with the disagreement over the book? 
I think Dance Theatre of Harlem is being super petty and trying to control their narrative 
. ChromaDiverse is just trying to share the history with the world 