You Only THINK You Know How to 'Electric Slide': Choreographer Contemplates Lawsuit
Choreographer Ric Silver Orders Misrepresentations of Electric Slide Taken Off Internet
Ric Silver, a singer-songwriter, choreographer and accountant says that wedding guests, Bar Mitzvah attendants and dancers at other social events are leaving out a few steps of the Electric Slide. Because of this, Silver says he has hired a lawyer and is considering a suit to protect the artistic integrity of his dance.
Silver told NPR's Renee Montagne this morning that the original dance has 22 steps and today, the version that seems to have been passed on only has 18. Silver chose 22 steps because his birthday is on the 22nd day of the month. Silver says that actors in movies have done it wrong. Ellen has done it wrong on her TV show. He added that Joe Pesci, in The Super performed that real version of the Electric Slide.
"I realize that this incorrect version of my choreography has been around for some 27 years," Silver wrote in an email to sent to a user, "and it seems pointless to try and correct it at this time but because of the legal ramifications, my lawyers have suggested that I take this approach."
Currently, Silver is ordering ordinary folks who have placed video snippets of the Electric Slide online to remove the video. His requests are justified through the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Under the DMCA, rights-holders can claim to services, like YouTube or MySpace that user-uploaded content infringes their copyrights.
Silver said in a statement on YouTube, "Any video that shows my choreography being done incorrectly is being removed. I don't want future generations having to learn it wrong and then relearn it as I am being faced with now because of certain sites and (people) that have been teaching it incorrectly and without my permission. That's the reason I (copyrighted) it in the first place."
(The Electric Slide is only one of a slew of DCMA claims YouTube has received as of late. Viacom has ordered over 100,000 videos to be removed.)
Silver, who choreographed the Electric Slide in 1976 had the dance copyrighted to protect its public performance. To some, that may seem odd. However, Jason Schultz, an attorney with the Electric Frontier Foundation was quoted on news.com saying that, yes indeed, you can copyright dance moves.
"You can copyright the choreography for dances and then enforce the copyright against anyone who publicly performs the dance," he said.
Similarly, when people put on musicals and such they need copyright permission to use songs and choreography.
Schultz says that people who do the Electric Slide incorrectly at non-commercial events are most likely not at risk, but the videographer could be, especially if the video finds its way to a broadcast venue.
According to Silver's official website, the Electric Slide is a 22-step, four-wall line dance, rated beginner to advanced and done to Marcia Griffith's "Electric Boogie."
Listen to to NPR story here.
Published by D. S. Ploshay
Since 2000, Donna Ploshay has contributed to alternative weeklies, newspapers, magazines and puzzle books including "The Times Leader," "The Weekender," "Games" and "Wilkes." Her expertise includes SEO, blog... View profile
- The Auxiliary Board of a Silver Lining Foundation Hosts a Pink Party September 10...Pink-attired revelers and supporters of A Silver Lining Foundation (ASLF) can celebrate at the Auxiliary Board's Pink Party, 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Thursday, September 10 at Casey Moran's, in Chicago's Wrigleyville...
Being Raised Wrong: How to Survive and What You Can Do to Change Face it. Not all parents were fabulous at raising kids. Some taught their children all wrong. Are you one of those children who's now an adult? Read more....- Product Review: Frigidaire Slide-In Dual Fuel Kitchen Range, Model: FCS366EThe Frigidaire Slide-In Dual Fuel Kitchen Range, Model: FCS366E is unique because of its sophisticated design as well as through its outstanding cooking technologies.
- Where to Find a Silver Christmas Tree SkirtDo you need to know where to buy a silver Christmas tree skirt? Never thought about decorating with silver? Why not? Take a look at these silver Christmas tree skirts, you may be surprised!
Gertrude Tompkins-Silver: Pilot Missing for Over 60 YearsThe mystery of her disappearance rivals that of Amelia Earhart. Yet very few people know the story of Gertrude Tompkins-Silver.
- KitchenAid Architect Series II 4.1 Cu. Ft. Electric Slide-In Range Review Model: K...
- Frigidaire Gallery Series 4.2 Cu. Ft. Electric Slide-In Range Review, Model: FGES3...
- What Does The Sterling in Sterling Silver Mean?
- Teaching Children Right from Wrong
- Whirlpool 4.3 Cu. Ft. Electric Kitchen Range Review, Model: RY160LXTS
- Five Best Electric Lawnmowers
- Silver Leaves: The Journal of the White Tree Fund - a Review
- The Electric Slide has 22 steps, not 18. Three steps got lost somewhere.
- Ric Silver's day job is as an accountant. This means he can count the wrong steps!
- The Electric Slide is copywrighted
18 Comments
Post a CommentIn other words, it isn't copyright, and he can't protect it. I HATE when people claim copyright to something they have no right to--it muddies the waters and creates bad will for legitimate copyright holders. Not to mention you then have to explain to YouTube that the claimant is an idiot.
spot while doing a triple turn in the air, fell and tore his cartilage ending his career at age 28. What wonders might this man have given the world had it not been for this fateful night. How many of you know The Robot, Techtronik, Breakdancing and the only squaredance created in the last 50 years - The Texas 'Silver' Star that premiered on the CMA awards show in 1989. Who knows what this man might have given the world had he not been struck down that night.. My hat goes off to this man and I believe he deserves our gratitude and thanks for the wonderful dances that he gave us in his short but amazing career.
In 1909, the laws governing copyright of choreography was such that only a ballet that told a story was acceptable but because of dancers like Jose Limon, Martha Graham, and the like, the laws changed in 1976 but did not take effect until 1978. The Electric Slide, which was created as a dance piece for professional dancers and performed at the club VAMPS owned by Steak & Brew who opened the club in 1975 as a nightclub for Professional Dancers stating that there were many dance clubs in New York for people to go to but no clubs for dancers to have for their own - a space where professional dancers could let loose. Mr. Silver, a professional dancers who had just become a member of the Larry Richardson Dance Company, was asked to create the dance to premiere at the club and teach it there until the club decided to open it's doors to the general public and one of the patrons brought a drink onto the dance floor, spilt it and Mr. Silver jumped in the air in a triple spin and landed on the
correction: *too much time (I hate when people misuse to, too, and two and I just did, crap!)
Oh, wow. I guess there is a little to much time on his hands!
Wow, no love for mr. Silver. I say rock on Mr. Silver the Electric Slide should be done correctly!
This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Three words for Ric ...GET A LIFE!
Thanks, DST, for writing something to brighten my otherwise drab day.
Can the Macarena be next? Personally I think anyone still doing the Electric Slide SHOULD be sued..so maybe he has something there.
He has lost it. I don't know anyone that thinks about getting fined when they go out dancing. I wonder if you modify the name to something like the electrical slide if you can still be fined. In movies and major public displays I can see him getting annoyed but really its not like he looses anything if I totally mess it up in my living room. Interesting article, who'd a thought