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Dance
notation
Dance
Graphical Notation System
Theodor Vasilescu
The “dance graphical notation” of Theodor Vasilescu © 1969 in cooperation
with Sever Tita offers full possibilities to express the movement in the finest details
and is also very effective by its possibility to synthesize the details in simple and
comprehensive graphical expressions.
Since ancient times the dance was customary in the life of civilizations and it is certain
that in modern society it finds itself a place more and more sought after.
Its presence not only as a show but also as a means of education, strengthening and
physical training by practicing in recreational groups or as a "hobby", has led
to the diversification of forms and programs.
Under such conditions, the dance memorization and transmission can no longer be done by
traditional methods. The video recording of the movie does this service in the most proper
way but in teaching the dance, in conceiving and reproducing the choreographies, in the
dance study and analysis, the graphical notation cannot be substituted.
The “graphical dance notation system” proved its efficiency by the fact that it
became the working tool for more than 40 volumes published by over 20 authors, containing
collections of choreographic folklore from various areas of Romania. Being known and used
in other countries as well, this dance notation system has mostly contributed to the
establishment of the documentary and study basis for the specialists in the dance field:
choreographers, teachers, pedagogues, instructors, etc.
The complete Dance Graphical Notation
System is available below and was split in three parts due to the site limitations. To
download the files below, move your mouse over the icons, click right mouse button and
select "Save Target As...". To view the files, just click on their icons and a
new browser window will open.
The "Dance Graphical Notation"
files are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You may download a FREE copy of Adobe Acrobat
Reader by clicking the logo below:
The above link for Adobe Acrobat will open a
new browser window.
Principles
of Dance Notation and Conventional Basic Signs
In the writing, all is looked at forward from the place where the performer is.
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Right leg (step with the right
leg) |
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Left leg (step with the left
leg) |
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Body and its orientation |
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Arms and their orientation |
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Head |
The limbs are divided in three parts, in accordance with their articulations.
The signs for the bend of the joints of the knee, of the elbow and the fingers. These
signs may be used also to indicate some movements of closing (contractions) for other
fragments of the body (eyes, forhead, etc.).
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Slightly bent (semi-flexion) |
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Bent 90° |
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Completely bent |
At the moves of the members from the joint of the shoulder (scapulo-humerale) and of
the hip (coxo-femurale) is used the indication of the amplitude of the movement in
degrees: 15°, 29°, 45°, 90°, 120°, etc. the same principle is used at the movement of
the inferior jaw, of the segment three of the feet and the hands (foot and palm).
Examples:
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Arms are in a normal position,
by the body |
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Right arm raised forward 90°,
elbow slightly bent |
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Semi-flexion of both legs
(small plie) |
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Right leg lifted forward 90°,
knee completely bent |
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