In 1962, Bob Fosse withheld his services on Little Me until Broadway producers agreed to recognize SDC as his collective bargaining agent.

In 1972, the first “property rights clause” was secured in an agreement between SDC and the League of New York Theaters, stating that Directors and Choreographers own their work and that this work may only be used or licensed provided that royalties are paid.

In 1975, the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York recognized SDC as a national labor union under the National Labor Relations Act and declared that Directors and Choreographers are employees.