Kiss Me Kate on Broadway Made Copyright History

Today’s archive photo shows a rehearsal of Kiss Me Kate, choreographed by Hanya Holm. Notice the Labanotation manuscript in the image. The very first U.S. copyright ever granted to a recorded dance composition was for the score to Kiss Me Kate in 1952, four years after its Broadway premiere. Pretty neat to see the manuscript! Also, Hanya Holm was one of the first modern dance pioneers to crossover to Broadway. She choreographed My Fair Lady and Camelot too! For more about the Kiss Me Kate copyright, see the July 1965 issue of Dance Magazine on p. 44.