Dance notation
Symbolic systems for recording and preserving dance movement.
Dance notation is the symbolic representation of human dance movement and form, using methods such as graphic symbols and figures, path mapping, numerical systems, and letter and word notations. Several dance notation systems have been invented, many of which are designed to document specific types of dance while others have been developed with capturing the broader spectrum of human movement potential. A dance score is a recorded dance notation that describes a particular dance.
- field
- Dance notation systems
- known_for
- Historical dance preservation, reconstruction, and copyrighting of choreography
- notable_systems
- Labanotation, Benesh Movement Notation, Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation, DanceWriting
Lore & Background
In the 1970s, U Chang-sop developed the Chamo System of Dance Notation for Korean dance. In 2017, Felipe Hsieh created Tango Notation for Argentine tango.
Reader's Guide
Dance notation serves as a crucial tool for historical dance preservation, allowing choreography to be documented, analyzed, and reconstructed across time and geography. Systems like Labanotation and Benesh Movement Notation have become standard in Western culture, while others such as Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation and DanceWriting offer alternative approaches. The Sergeyev Collection, using Stepanov's notation, enabled many Imperial Ballet works to be staged outside Russia for the first time. Specialized systems like Kahnotation for tap dance, Beauchamp–Feuillet notation for Baroque dance, and Tango Notation for Argentine tango highlight the diversity of movement forms. These systems collectively ensure that dance, an ephemeral art, can be preserved and revived for future generations.
Did You Know?
- The Sergeyev Collection, recorded using Stepanov's notation, documents the Imperial Ballet's repertoire including Petipa's original choreography for The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Coppélia, and the
- In 2017, Felipe Hsieh created Tango Notation, a dance notation system specific to Argentine tango.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dance notation?
Dance notation is a symbolic system for representing human dance movement and form in a recorded medium. It relies on tools such as graphic symbols, spatial path mapping, numerical codes, and letter- or word-based descriptions to capture how a body moves through time and space.
What are the most well-known dance notation systems?
The four most widely recognized systems are Labanotation, Benesh Movement Notation, Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation, and DanceWriting. Some were designed to document particular dance styles, while others aim to capture the full range of possible human movement.
What is a dance score?
A dance score is a completed, recorded notation that describes one specific piece of choreography. It functions as the written blueprint of a particular dance, much the way a musical score serves as the blueprint for a composition.
Why is dance notation important to the dance world?
It lets choreographers preserve their work so it can be faithfully reconstructed by other dancers long after the original performance. It also provides a legal basis for copyrighting choreography and helps historians recover dances that would otherwise be lost to time.
What methods does dance notation use to record movement?
Notation systems draw on a mix of graphic symbols and figures, spatial path mapping, numerical coding, and letter- or word-based descriptions. The exact combination depends on which system is in use and what kind of movement is being captured.
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