Does Choreography Get Copyrighted? — Page 2

Ok, I know this is an age old question, but I'm getting paranoid and wanted to check in with this community as folks really know their stuff.

I am going to be choreographing a high school production of West Side Story this coming spring. I have a very strong opinion that the original choreography is brilliant and really is the language of the show, therefore, knowing the talent level and work ethic of my students, I am taking steps to obtain permission to use the original choreography.

I called MTI to check with them and was assured repeatedly that as long as we rent the choreography manual and give Jerome Robbins' credit appropriately, we are at perfect liberty to use as much or as little of the original choreography.

I am still nervous as that's just not sitting right with me. Is there no extra fee? No royalties or rights that need to be obtained additionally to use Jerome Robbins choreography? Really?

Can anyone verify? I really do want to do this on the up-and-up and not find out a week before auditions that I got the wrong information from MTI or something.

Thanks in advance! :)

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Absolutely all choreography is most certainly intellectual property and protected by copyright law. Even after a choreographer is dead, the choreography is still copyrighted for 70 to 95 years depending. However, if you are to claim damages for stolen choreography, that is your own responsibility.

Side note: This is how the Ballet industry works. Choreographers, dead or alive license out their choreography to companies, and in most cases send "repetiteurs" to teach the choreography from the official keeper of the choreography. Jerome Robbins Trust does this for both Ballet and Broadway.

Even choreography in music videos is copyrighted, and in some cases, such as Beyonce's "Single Ladies" they give permission to be performed in films like "Sex and the City 2", or by Dame Edna in "All About Me" on Broadway. Subsequently, all licensed choreography (usually) must be credited, and you'll notice Beyonce credited for her contribution to the "Sex and the City 2" film, just as Jerome Robbins is credited for the choreography in West Side Story, even though he is dead.

The bottom line is, if choreography is being wrongfully used for profit, it is up the the rights holder to pursue the matter. The constitution protects every and all intellectual property created by citizens whether or not the copyright is registered.


BroadwayDoctor.com

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Updated On: 7/28/10 at 07:55 PM

More out of idle curiosity than anything, is there really a big book of dance steps for Chorus Line that Tams-Witmark lisences? If so, that may be my new lifes goal. To get a copy and see if I can teach myself the full steps to MATM.

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^^^
The Hot Honey Rag is listed in the Chicago revival credits as choreographed by Bob Fosse, but all the other numbers are listed as Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse.

EDIT TO ADD:

I just talked to a friend who saw the 2008 national Chicago tour. She remembers the credits said choreography was by Ann Reinking, duplicated from the original production. So, I assume they needed Ann Reinking's permission, not Bob Fosse's estate, which is interesting.

Updated On: 7/29/10 at 02:42 AM

"To answer your question -- YES, choreography IS copyrighted."

Choreography os only copyrighted IF and ONLY IF it is in written form. If I were to choreograph something and then videotape the dance, it is NOT accepted as a copyright (though the video itself is).

"Choreography os only copyrighted IF and ONLY IF it is in written form. If I were to choreograph something and then videotape the dance, it is NOT accepted as a copyright (though the video itself is)."

This is not true. Here is what the copyright law actually says:

For copyright protection to apply choreographic works
[need] to be “fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed,
from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly
or with the aid of a machine or device.” (US Copyright Act, 1976).