DWTS Vs. "West Side Story"

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 9/29/14 at 11:40pm

Anyone catch the show tonight? Seems Janel Parish and her partner Val ran into some legal issues with WSS who ordered the show to change their choreography. They performed to "America" so I assume they incorporated original choreography?

Something like this ever happened before?

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 12:46am

Weren't they forced to pick a new song, too? I was thinking that they originally chose the Pas de Deux.

[nicnyc]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 1:39am

According to numerous DWTS websites, their original song was I Feel Pretty. And, yes, the issue appears to have been one of copying original choreography.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 6:26am

They danced well but I think the judges sympathized with them over the last minute legalities and all gave them a 10. I didn't think the number deserved 10s.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 6:37am

Any thoughts on why they were allowed to do "America" but not "I Feel Pretty"? Because of the film, I'm assuming the video rights are held by some large corporation and not by the authors or their estates.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 7:18am

I don't think it was the exact song that was the problem. The dancers were just told that they could not use any West Side Story choreography for copyright reasons and had to change their dance. Perhaps the celeb dancer who was choreographing the number felt he could not come up with original successful choreography using the original song. But he was able to do it with America...so they could still use their costumes, theme, etc.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 10:46pm

Thanks, Kathy, that makes sense.