choreography in the public domain?

[jessica]

I'm new to the site, and couldn't find another forum that seemed a more appropriate place to ask about this, but if anyone has any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.

I'm looking for some information on the choreographic rights for the Act III piano variation from Petipa's Raymonda, which I think is in the public domain. I'm also interested in finding out about the rights for Dolin's Pas de Quatre; either the Taglioni or Cerrito variation. Does anyone know for sure if these rights are public, or if there is a legal copyright holder for any of them?

Thanks!

[Helene]

I've moved your post to the Ballet Music and History forum, where hopefully one of our music experts will be able to help you.

[Mel Johnson]

Yes, the generic Raymonda "cembalom" variation is in the public domain. As to Dolin, that's a bit dicier. As I noted on another thread currently active on the board, it is based on a version choreographed by Keith Lester. Most of the versions seen today are "after Dolin", but Dolin, it would appear, was "after Lester". Some versions are presented after Lester, in a choreographic pedigree that goes back to 1936, but I don't know that Lester (b. 1924) ever registered a copyright on his choreography, nor am I certain what could be considered "after Dolin", as he changed bits around frequently in his stagings. I do not know if Dolin's estate contained any choreographic copyrights, so if he or anybody else (say, an executor) failed to register it, it would be in the clear as well. Dolin died in Paris, was a British subject, and maintained an American address for immigration purposes! A nice tangle of legalities trying to figure out whom to apply to for establishing rights.

[jessica]

Thank you both for your help. I'll see what I can find out, and if I'm able to secure the rights, I'll post follow-up information.

[sandik]

Another resource you might want to explore is the Dance Notation Bureau. They list a couple of scores for Dolin's PdQ in their Catalogue of Notated Theatrical Dances, one of the full ballet notated in 1984, and another just of the Lucile Grahn variation notated in 1965. They would have information on copyright as a part of their restaging program.

www.dancenotation.org/DNB/index.html

[Mme. Hermine]

Did Pas de Quatre not go to Jelko Yuresha and Belinda Wright? Mel?

[Mme. Hermine]

Found this:

http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/issues/030896/...ure/feat01.html

somewhere down in the middle of the article, a pair of small paragraphs.

[Mel Johnson]

Did Pas de Quatre not go to Jelko Yuresha and Belinda Wright? Mel?

They certainly would a logical choice. I don't know that they have exclusivity, but that would seem the way to do it. (I know he didn't leave me any part of it.)

[vrsfanatic]

According to Mr. Yuresha, he and Ms Wright were left the rights to Pas de Quatre and Variations for 4. I suppose the only way to really know is to check the last will and testemant of Mr. Dolin. Mr. Yuresha has staged the pieces worldwide.

[leonid17]

As to Dolin, that's a bit dicier. As I noted on another thread currently active on the board, it is based on a version choreographed by Keith Lester. Most of the versions seen today are "after Dolin", but Dolin, it would appear, was "after Lester". Some versions are presented after Lester, in a choreographic pedigree that goes back to 1936...

I knew both Keith Lester slightly and Sir Anton Dolin a little better. I have never heard of any attribution to the Dolin version being anything but Dolin's and Lester's was anything but Lester's. It seems to me a fairly recent phenomenon to think otherwise. I am however willing, if there is incontroversial evidence, to be disillusioned.