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How did Margaret Morrisâs anatomical approach to notation differ from alphabet systems?
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dance notation
Comparison of five systems of dance notation. (A) Starting position: stand with feet together. (B) Step forward on the right foot (count 1). (C) Land to the left, feet together, knees bent (count 2).
Margaret Morrisâs anatomical approach to dance notation differed from "alphabet" systems in its method of symbol assignment. While Morris provided separate, distinct signs for each movement of every part of the body, alphabet systemsâsuch as labanotationâutilize a more standardized approach. In those systems, the same basic type of movement is represented by the same symbol regardless of which body part is performing the action.1
Because Morrisâs system required unique signs for each body part's movements, it was not considered an advantage compared to the more streamlined, "spelled out" logic of alphabet systems, where movements are constructed from a sequence of basic components.1