Comment from Gary Freedman.

It has always been understood that anyone who buys a script have bought the right to teach the scripted dance on. Now I would like to know when the conditions of teaching were changed and where I can find details of when and where the change came about.

Copyright on scripts were introduced before the forward button on the home computer or  the DVD was ever thought of. The Associaitons set out to limit those who had access to a photocopier the only technology of the day from making profit from their scripts. It is for this reason that nothing on the script limits the teacher to where they can teach. On reading other sites I understand the BDC and Associations have now decided the people making these DVD’s should have asked permission of the copyright holders to make them. Why? These teachers are simply using modern technology to teach their students the dances in a way their students choose to be taught.

Yes we pay for the DVD but, I pay everytime I walk into a dance hall, where is the difference?

Most  Sequence Dancers have walked through the new routine long before the DVD arrives on the door step, so where is the problem?

Undoubtedly as technology progresses there will be new ways to teach and present dancing to the public. Should we not welcome and embrace any opportunity to bring and keep people in dancing.

Sorry BDC and Associations, I think that you should just accept you have missed the boat.

Gary.

This is the last comment we will publish on the making and selling of DVD’s as  Mr Roy Sharpe,  Chairman of the BDC  Sequence Dance  Advisory Committee, has agreed to send us details of  the official guidelines on the script copyright to publish in the sequencedancemag.  This will clarify the situation for everyone.