The Mark Morris lawsuit is a federal race and disability discrimination case filed in October 2025 by Taína Lyons, a former dancer with the Mark Morris Dance Group, against the choreographer Mark Morris personally and Discalced, Inc., the nonprofit that operates his company. It is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before Judge Analisa Torres, and the defendants’ motion to dismiss has been fully briefed but not yet decided.1CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc.
What Lyons Alleges
Lyons, who identifies as Afro-Latina, danced with the company from 2022 to 2024. She filed her complaint on October 21, 2025, alleging employment discrimination based on race and disability. Among the specific allegations, she claims Morris told her that her hair was “too big” and a “distraction.”2The New York Times. Mark Morris Lawsuit Discrimination
Declarations From Other Former Dancers
The complaint was filed with signed declarations from two other former Black company members, Charlton Boyd and Malik Williams.1CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc. Boyd, who danced with the group from the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, alleges that Morris called him by a racial slur on a “regular” basis, sometimes in front of other dancers and staff.2The New York Times. Mark Morris Lawsuit Discrimination
Williams’s declaration includes a claim that Morris physically shoved him and that Williams resigned the day after the alleged incident.3Ballet Alert. Mark Morris Accused of Mistreating Black Company Members Williams did not file his own separate lawsuit.
How Morris and the Company Responded
The Mark Morris Dance Group and Morris deny the claims. In a statement to the New York Times, the company said it “strongly deny the allegations contained in the complaint of Taína Lyons” and that it “has long advocated for equal treatment of all since its inception.”2The New York Times. Mark Morris Lawsuit Discrimination
On February 20, 2026, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, supported by a memorandum of law and a declaration from defense attorney Tyler B. Levenson of Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden, LLP.1CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc.
Where the Case Stands
The motion to dismiss is fully briefed. Lyons’s attorneys filed their opposition in late March and early April 2026, and the defendants submitted a reply memorandum on April 21, 2026.1CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc. Judge Torres has not yet ruled.
In early May 2026, Lyons filed a motion to amend her complaint, and an order addressing that motion was entered on May 7, 2026.1CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc. Her legal team has also changed since filing. An order granting a motion to withdraw as attorney was issued in February 2026, followed by new notices of appearance in March and April. Lyons is now represented by Hilary Joy Orzick of Keenan & Bhatia, LLC, a firm that handles employment discrimination cases including race and disability claims.4CourtListener. Lyons v. Discalced, Inc. – Parties
The Separate McBride Wage Case
A different suit against the company should not be confused with the Lyons case. In August 2025, a dancer named Ryan Thornton McBride sued the Mark Morris Dance Group and Discalced, Inc. under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Eastern District of New York.5PACER Monitor. McBride v. Mark Morris Dance Group The specific labor claims were not detailed in available court records.
That case is over. The parties filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice on April 3, 2026, and the court terminated the case on April 7, 2026, without costs to either party.5PACER Monitor. McBride v. Mark Morris Dance Group Dismissal with prejudice means the claims cannot be refiled. Any settlement terms are not public.