Denmark’s culture minister has written to the singer Leonard Cohen, urging him to change his mind about denying a Danish dance company the right to use some of his songs - a central part of the company’s performance, according to TV2News.

Elbæk has decided to react because he believes that Cohen and his managers have been unreasonable in denying the Granhøj Dance Company from Aarhus the rights to use his music on a world tour.

“I have written to him that I sincerely hope that the problem will be solved. I am sure hat Granhøj will not do anything illegal,” Elbæk tells TV2News.

The Danish embassy in Canada has also been involved in the case.

Granhøj is currently on tour abroad with its “Dance Me To The End On/Off Love” performance in which the company uses some of Cohen’s well-known songs. Cohen and his Sony ATV company have declined permission to use the songs as Cohen himself is on tour with the same songs.

The dispute has meant that one performance has already had to be cancelled in Poland, and with other performances in Russia and Germany in the balance. The issue will particularly hit hard in Canada, where the company has been booked for a total of 32 performances.

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