• Since the cost of video duplication is cheap
    and copies can be made at home on most
    PC's, it can be hard to control the distribution
    (approved or unapproved) of videotaped dance
    works.

  • Artistic directors have many questions about
    who holds the legal rights to videotaped
    material and what those rights entail.  Rights
    to use of a choreography or music should be
    obtained up front.  Rights issues can be
    complicated and a dance company could
    spend money producing footage it will not
    have the legal right to use.  For this reason
    signed Performers Releases are necessary for
    both the performers and videographer(s) and
    rights to use music must be acquired in
    advance of production.

  • Securing rights to music is one of the most
    overlooked issues by most dancers.  Often
    dancers will post video on YouTube of their
    dance performance, only to have the sound
    blocked because they used a well known piece
    of music by a well known recording artist.  
    Ask permission before you choreograph.

  • The area of copyright as it relates to dance
    and video is a little understood issue. Original
    work or expressions are protected by
    copyright. Artistic directors and videographers
    must insure that everyone receives the
    appropriate rights and protections afforded by
    copyright law.  Dance, much like music, is
    subject to copyright once it has become fixed
    or written. This "fixing" can take the form of
    notation, diagrams or video.

  • In work-for-hire situations, generally the
    employer retains copyright to the finished
    work.  For example, if you pay for the
    videographer to shoot the video, pay for the
    tapes, pay for the editing, and pay for the
    Master or duplication, you most definitely
    have retained exclusive rights to the video.  If
    the videographer is footing the bill, and the
    dancers are paid talent, the videographer
    retains the rights to the footage.  Sometimes
    the cost is shared as would be the profits, but
    this is rare and usually happens only with
    promoters or studios.  Once again, performers
    releases and written contract set all parties
    clear of their rights and obligations.
information about copyright
licensing, helping people
dedicate their creative works to
the public domain.

United States Copyright Office,
Library of Congress,
Washington, DC  Information
on copyright basics, searching
copyright records, registering a
work, copyright law and
policy, licensing, and
publications.

How Music Licensing Works
by Marshall Brain on "How
Stuff Works" Website

Harry Fox Agency  HFA is the
foremost mechanical licensing,
collection, and distribution
agency for music publishers in
the U.S.

ASCAP - American Society of
Composers, Authors and
Publishers

BMI - Broadcast Music
Incorporated

Universal Music Publishing
Group
Licenses music by many top 40
Artists

Power Music  Licenses music
for  video and commercials

Music Box.com  A Music
Production Company offering
both custom scoring and a high
quality premium music catalog
of over 200 CDs

Bellydance music available for
license on Audio Sparx
Copyright Issues for Dance Video
Copyright © 2005-2010, Cintronart Productions.  All video images and material are property of Cintronart
Productions, unless otherwise noted.  Any use in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.