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How does dance notation record movement on paper?
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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).
Dance notation records four-dimensional movementâincorporating time as the fourth dimensionâonto two-dimensional paper using various symbolic or visual systems. Because dance is a complex physical art, different methods have been developed to translate these movements into written signs.1
Prominent Notation Systems
- Labanotation: This "alphabet" system uses a vertical three-line staff to represent the body, read from bottom to top. Movement symbols are placed in columns corresponding to specific body parts; the symbol's shape indicates direction, its shading denotes level, and its length represents duration.23
- Benesh Movement Notation: This system uses a five-line horizontal staff that functions as a matrix representing the dancer from head to foot as viewed from behind. Positions and movement lines are plotted on this matrix, with additional signs and numbers used to indicate more complex actions or dynamics.24
- Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation: This approach takes an anatomical and mathematical view, using numbers and symbols to record the movement of body segments in relation to fixed coordinates.24
Historically, systems have evolved from simple verbal abbreviations and track-drawing to sophisticated symbolic methods capable of capturing precise timing, spatial nuances, and dynamic variations.24