Dance Theatre of Harlem Fights for Control of Its Civil Rights-Era History in Court
A historic dance company founded during the tumultuous civil rights era is embroiled in a bitter dispute over its rich history. Dance Theatre of Harlem, a ballet company that has been training dancers of color since 1969, is fighting in court to regain control of a vast collection of photographs that document its early years.
The conflict centers around Margaret Elizabeth "Marbeth" Schnare, the photographer who captured key moments from the company's history between 1969 and 2006. The dance company claims it has always owned the rights to these photos, as well as copyrights for the pictures, which have been used for marketing, souvenir books, and other historical chronicles.
However, a former dancer-turned-archivist, Judy Tyrus, has disputed this claim by publishing a book featuring Schnare's photographs in 2021. The dispute escalated when Tyrus' nonprofit organization, ChromaDiverse, received a trove of archival materials from the photographer's heirs without Dance Theatre of Harlem's permission.
The dance company claims that the photos were never owned by Schnare or her heirs and therefore cannot be donated to another organization. This dispute has blocked Dance Theatre of Harlem's ability to share its history with the public and has also hindered a source of revenue, as the organization is unable to license the photographs to other institutions.
Dance Theatre of Harlem's attorney, Melissa Holsinger, emphasized the importance of securing licensing deals for Schnare's photos. "Those are lost opportunities that [Dance Theatre of Harlem] has not been able to capitalize on," she said.
The court case raises questions about ownership and control over cultural artifacts, particularly those with historical significance. Dance Theatre of Harlem is fighting to preserve its legacy, while ChromaDiverse seeks to monetize the valuable archive.
As the lawsuit continues, the dance company faces a significant financial burden, with a nearly $800,000 deficit reported in 2024. The organization has gone on hiatus due to funding issues in the past and is now struggling to maintain its operations.
The court case has sparked concerns about the ownership of cultural assets and the rights of individuals versus institutions. As Judge Ronnie Abrams prepares to rule on ChromaDiverse's request to dismiss Judy Tyrus and her heirs from the lawsuit, the fate of Dance Theatre of Harlem's history hangs in the balance.
A historic dance company founded during the tumultuous civil rights era is embroiled in a bitter dispute over its rich history. Dance Theatre of Harlem, a ballet company that has been training dancers of color since 1969, is fighting in court to regain control of a vast collection of photographs that document its early years.
The conflict centers around Margaret Elizabeth "Marbeth" Schnare, the photographer who captured key moments from the company's history between 1969 and 2006. The dance company claims it has always owned the rights to these photos, as well as copyrights for the pictures, which have been used for marketing, souvenir books, and other historical chronicles.
However, a former dancer-turned-archivist, Judy Tyrus, has disputed this claim by publishing a book featuring Schnare's photographs in 2021. The dispute escalated when Tyrus' nonprofit organization, ChromaDiverse, received a trove of archival materials from the photographer's heirs without Dance Theatre of Harlem's permission.
The dance company claims that the photos were never owned by Schnare or her heirs and therefore cannot be donated to another organization. This dispute has blocked Dance Theatre of Harlem's ability to share its history with the public and has also hindered a source of revenue, as the organization is unable to license the photographs to other institutions.
Dance Theatre of Harlem's attorney, Melissa Holsinger, emphasized the importance of securing licensing deals for Schnare's photos. "Those are lost opportunities that [Dance Theatre of Harlem] has not been able to capitalize on," she said.
The court case raises questions about ownership and control over cultural artifacts, particularly those with historical significance. Dance Theatre of Harlem is fighting to preserve its legacy, while ChromaDiverse seeks to monetize the valuable archive.
As the lawsuit continues, the dance company faces a significant financial burden, with a nearly $800,000 deficit reported in 2024. The organization has gone on hiatus due to funding issues in the past and is now struggling to maintain its operations.
The court case has sparked concerns about the ownership of cultural assets and the rights of individuals versus institutions. As Judge Ronnie Abrams prepares to rule on ChromaDiverse's request to dismiss Judy Tyrus and her heirs from the lawsuit, the fate of Dance Theatre of Harlem's history hangs in the balance.
This whole thing is wild, you know? I mean, these dancers are fighting over some old pics that are supposed to represent their history 
. It feels like they're more worried about the cash flow than preserving their legacy 
. And can we talk about how messy this situation is? There's a whole web of people involved - the dance company, the photographer's heirs, Judy Tyrus... it's like a game of tug-of-war over who gets to control what 
.
. But at the same time, I don't think the dance company should be so close-minded about sharing their story 
. Can't they just find a way to compromise or make an exception? It's not like they're trying to hide anything shady 
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. If Dance Theatre of Harlem can get its act together and work with everyone involved, I think it could be a great opportunity for them to share their story with the world 
. But if they keep going down this road, it's gonna be hard to find anyone willing to lend a helping hand 
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. But on the other hand, Dance Theatre of Harlem has been around for ages and deserves to preserve its history, but Judy Tyrus' nonprofit is helping to make it more accessible to people... ugh, I don't know what to think 
. And honestly, a $800k deficit? That's crazy 
- maybe they should just license those photos already and get some cash flow going 
You got these cultural artifacts, these memories that are so valuable to a community, and now there's all this drama about who owns them? It's like, what does it even mean to own something? Is it just about the money, or is it about preserving the past for future generations? I feel like Dance Theatre of Harlem has been holding onto these photos as some kind of emotional anchor, but ChromaDiverse is trying to break free and share them with the world. It's a power struggle, man... between the need to preserve history versus the need to make money. And what does that say about us, as a society? Are we more interested in owning things than in preserving the things that truly matter? 
. But at the same time, I get why Dance Theatre of Harlem wants to keep their history under control – it's not just about the pics, it's about preserving their culture and all that 
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. Now the dance company can't use their own history to make money or share it with the public, which is just wild 
. The whole thing feels like a massive power struggle over cultural artifacts and who gets to decide what's valuable 
. I feel like both sides are being super reasonable, but it's hard to see how they can come to an agreement. The dance company needs those photos to share its history with the public and make some much-needed cash 
. It's not just about the photos themselves, but about the impact they can have on our understanding of art and social justice 
... just saying 