4 BASIC SYMBOLS
The action strokes are the most important symbols used in this notation
system. They indicate which arm, leg, etc. takes weight, touches the floor
or another body part, or a makes a gesture in the air, and when each such
action occurs. However, the action strokes alone provide only the skeleton
of the dance. To flesh it out, several other symbols are used:
(1) degree markers are used to show the degree of a movement.
When placed on a step action stroke, they show whether the step is accented.
When placed on a touch action stroke, they indicate whether the touch is
light or heavy. When placed beside an arrow indicating the direction of
movement, they declare whether the action is small or large. On a limb
rotation sign, they indicate the degree of rotation. Placed beside the
arrow or pin of a bearing sign, they indicate a small or large deviation
from the standard direction. With the "alternate form" of the limb flexion
sign, they indicate the size of the angle at the middle joint of the limb.
(2) Direction signs show the direction of movement of the dancer,
or the bearing of a body part relative to a reference point, or the direction
in which a surface of a body part faces. In "floor" signs, only horizontal
direction is shown, since it is assumed that the position is on the floor.
In 3D signs, both horizontal direction and vertical direction are noted.
A direction sign is called a vector if a distance is also indicated.
Floor vectors show the floor position (horizontal direction and
range) of a position of a dancer, or of a part of the body which is touching
the floor, relative to some floor-based reference point. An arrow shows
the horizontal direction, and distance is shown by a number (measured using
the dancer's foot as a unit), or a degree marker (see below).
3D bearing signs show the horizontal direction and angle of elevation
of a part of the body (the "pointer") relative to some reference point.
In their simplest form, they combine an arrow (showing horizontal direction)
with a pin (showing the angle of elevation). They may be modified to show
a particular reference point and/or frame of reference.
It is possible to convert a 3D bearing sign to a 3D vector by
also specifying a distance. A 3D vector shows both the direction of the
pointer from the reference point in 3D space, and the distance between
them, and thus fixes the location of the pointer relative to the reference
point.
3D facing signs show the horizontal and vertical direction toward
which a part of the body, in particular, the head, chest, pelvis or palm,
is facing. An arrowhead (not an arrow, there is no shaft) shows the horizontal
direction and a pin shows the angle of elevation.
A simplified facing sign, which only shows horizontal direction, is
used to show how the dancer is facing relative to the room.
(3) rotation signs show the direction of rotation of either the
entire body, or of a local body part. Body rotation signs are used
in the general column, in conjunction with facing signs, to show how the
body moves from one facing to another. A / means a clockwise turn, and
a \ a counterclockwise turn. They may be combined with a circled facing
sign to show the axis of rotation. Limb (local) rotation signs show
the direction and degree of rotation of a limb. The / or \ basic sign is
combined with a degree marker.
(4) limb (local) flexion signs show the degree of flexion of
the middle joint of a limb (or of the fingers).
(5) limb crossing signs indicate whether one limb is crossing
in front (_) or in back (È) of another, and by how much.
(6) body part signs indicate the part of the body which is involved
in a movement, or which is being used as a reference point for a movement.
(7) reference point signs indicate the spatial reference point,
if unusual, for a movement or bearing. They are used together with the
various directional signs. Some reference point signs are derived from
body part signs.
(8) frame of reference signs indicate the frame of reference
("front"; "down") for a directional sign, when it is not the normal one.
(9) miscellaneous signs include those used to show a retention
of weight, a sliding contact, a brief leap in the air, etc.
There are a few other signs which are only very occasionally useful,
but are mentioned here for the sake of completeness. Timing signs,
as their name implies, allow you to control how the timing of a movement
is stated. It can be stated more precisely, or less precisely, than normal.
Distance signs are allow you to specify the horizontal separation,
vertical separation, or true distance between a pointer and a reference
point. The horizontal sign looks like an "I" on its side, the vertical
sign looks like an ordinary "I", and the true distance sign like an "I"
slanted 45 deg. to the right. They are accompanied by either a number or
by a degree sign. They may be used together with 3D bearing signto fix
a position in space, or by themselves, if you just want to say, "the hand
is higher than the shoulder", without saying more. Plumbline signs
allow you to specify the position of a part of the body as a vertical distance
above the floor. Note that this is an actual distance, not an angle of
elevation as in a bearing sign. They are useful when what is important
is to state how far the foot (or whatever) is above the floor. An plumbline
sign looks like a mathematical sign (_) and is accompanied by either a
number (giving the distance in foot-lengths) or by a degree sign.
A plumbline sign is really a special case of a distance sign in which
the reference point is the floor.
[Distance and plumbline signs are experimental; I may decide to change
them.]
4.1 Degree Signs
 "Degree Signs" are
used in many places within this notation. White (open) symbols generally
connote high, large, open and light movements or positions, while black
(filled in) symbols generally connote low, small, constrained, or heavy
movements or positions. Sometimes the middle degree means normal, white
symbols, above normal, and dark symbols, below normal.
If only two degrees are to be indicated, they are shown by a black circle
or a white circle. If we need to show three degrees, they range from black
circle, through "x", to white circle. To show five degrees (see illustration),
we use, in order, black square, black circle, "x", white circle, and white
square. If we need to show nine degrees, we obtain the intermediate degrees
by superimposition, i.e., a black circle within a square, an "x" over a
smaller black circle, an "x" over a smaller white circle, and a white circle
within a square.
A slight deviation above or below the normal meaning of the degree sign
is shown by over- or underscoring the degree sign. This is
used mostly with the "x" sign.
4.2 Floor Position Signs
 The floor
position signs indicate a position of the dancer, or of a body part, as
a horizontal direction, and a radial distance, from a point on the floor.
The horizontal direction is given by an arrow, and the distance by either
a number (whose unit is the length of the dancer's foot), or by a degree
marker.
4.3 Bearing Signs
3D bearing signs indicate the relationship of one part of the body to another,
or to a fixed point in space, or to an object, by stating the horizontal
direction and vertical angle of elevation, e.g., "the hand is in front
of and level with the head".
To express a bearing relationship, there are four basic requirements:
(a) a reference point (this is normally the base joint of the limb,
but could be, e.g., the dancer's head or chest);
(b) a frame of reference which defines "front" and "down" directions
from the reference point ("right" is perpendicular to both "front" and
"down")(see Advanced Topics for how to specify the frame);
(c) an object whose direction relative to the reference point is to
be expressed in the frame of reference (it is called the "pointer" in the
remainder of this monograph);
(d) a horizontal direction indicator; and
(e) a vertical angle of elevation indicator.
4.3.1 Horizontal Direction; Vertical Angle of Elevation (Basic Signs
Only)
The direction indicators (d) and (e) must always be present, but for a
given movement there is an assumed (default) reference point and frame
of referencethereby simplifying the notation.
There are two sets of direction/elevation signs. The first set combine
a simple direction arrow with a pin that emanates from the base of the
arrow. This set is used when, in an air gesture with a limb, the "pointer"
is the end of the limb. In the second set, the "arrowhead" of the direction
arrow is placed "midshaft". This indicates that the "pointer" of the limb
is the middle joint, i.e., the elbow or knee. The direction arrow shows
the horizontal direction and the elevation pin, attached to the base of
the arrow, shows the vertical angle of elevation.
With an ummodified arrow, we can indicate eight horizontal directions.
For horizontal directions, an arrow pointing straght up the paper means
straight forward, one pointing straight down the paper means straight back,
left and right arrows mean to the left and right, respectively, and the
diagonal arrows mean what you would expect.
Horizontal direction has no meaning when the vertical direction is straight
up or straight down; that is why those signs do not use arrows. Instead,
we use a white diamond (up) or a black diamond (down); if the pointer is
the middle joint, we superimpose a cross over the diamond.
If the pointer is located right at the reference point, we use a cross
if the pointer is the end of the limb and a # if it is the middle joint.
The basic symbols only show five different vertical angles. Straight
up and straight down have already been discussed. The pin points diagonally
up and to the side if the angle is 45 deg. above level (i.e., 135 deg.
from straight down); straight to the side if the pointer is level with
the reference point (i.e., 90 deg. from straight down); and diagonally
down and to the side if the angle is 45 deg. below level (i.e., 45 deg.
from straight down).
In the first illustration, the symbols all assume that the end of the
limb is the pointer. The central symbol means straight up (180 deg. elevation).
In the first ring are the symbols indicating a vertical elevation of 135
deg. These are arrayed, relative to the center, so as to correspond to
the horizontal direction which they also indicate. In the second ring,
we have the 90 deg. elevation symbols, and, in the third ring, the 45 deg.
elevation symbols. The 0 deg. symbol is, of course, the black diamond-plus-cross.
The straight up, in place, and straight down signs are shown on the far
right hand side of the illustration.
In the second illustration, the symbols all assume that the middle joint
of the limb is the pointer. The layout is the same as for the first illustration.
Please note that when the limb is straight, the endlimb and midjoint
pointer symbols have the same meaning, but it is customary to use the endlimb
symbol. Also, if the indicated action is an active touch, use the endlimb
symbol, but it assumed that the pointer is whatever is doing the touching.
The vertical and horizontal direction signs may be modified to show
(a) intermediate directions, or (b) indefiniteness of the direction, as
explained in Advanced Topics.
4.3.2 Reference Points
Reference point symbols are extremely useful in dance notation. In a "balance",
while one could notate the return movement as being simply an equal movement
in the opposite direction, the purpose of the movement is better conveyed
by indicating that the movement is a return to a previously occupied spot.
A gesture may be more fairly characterized as bringing the hand in front
of the head or chest, or the foot behind the knee or in front of the opposite
foot, than by specifying the angles at the base and middle joints of the
limb.
If the reference point is something which can move (another dancer,
a body part, the dancer's center of gravity), itis necessary to be clear
as to which reference point position isused. Generally speaking, for a
gesture, if the "pointer" and the "reference point" are moving simultaneously.
the position for the reference point is taken to be that occupied at the
end of its action. Thus, if you step forward, or twist your shoulder, the
position of the wrist is referenced to the new position of the shoulder.
On the other hand, for a step, the normal rule is that one shows the
movement of the dancer, or of a stepping foot, relative to a pre-step "place".
The most common reference point for a notated posture of a limb is the
post-action position of the base joint of the limb (the shoulder for the
arm and the hip for the leg); other reference points must be expressly
indicated. When the reference point is a non-standard one, a symbol identifying
the reference point is placed at the base of the horizontal direction arrow
and the vertical direction pin, or to one side of the 3D bearing sign.
A reference point may be a part of the dancer's body, and, if so, it
may be based on the position of the body when it commences the current
action, on the position of the body when it completes the current action,
or on the position of the body when it completed a prior action. Round
reference point symbols refer to parts of the body. Triangular reference
point symbols refer in some way to the center of gravity of the body. A
reference point may instead be a fixed point in space, usually defined
by previous movements of the dancer. Such reference points are identified
by square symbols.
Reference point symbols will usually be placed to the right of the 3D
bearing sign (or the distance sign). However, if desired, the arrow and
pin of the 3D bearing sign may be attached to the reference point symbol.
An exception is made if the position is identical to the indicated reference
point. Instead of combining the reference point symbol with the symbol
for "center" (the plus sign), we just use the reference point symbol. The
most common use of this shorthand is when one foot "closes" to another;
above the step action stroke we place the "close anatomical place" reference
sign.
To indicate that the reference point is determined as of a particular
count, e.g., the location of the opposite foot on count 2, use a superscript
to the right of the reference point symbol.
The following table lists the presently accepted reference symbols:
| post-action position of opposite foot (symbol
used only if step with leg) |
vertically bisected circle. (Illus., item 1) |
| post-action position immediately in front or
immediately in back of the opposite foot. |
"cross in front" or "cross in back" symbol (see
next section), inside circle. (not illus.) |
| post-action position of middle joint of limb
(symbol used only with limb gesture) |
horizontally bisected circle. (Illus., item
2) |
| post-action position of a part of the dancer's
body |
circled body part symbol (Illus, item 3, head;
item 4, chest; item 5, right knee) |
| post-action position of any part of another's
body |
circled body part symbol (with double vertical
bar); if there are more than two dancers, the other dancer must be identified
in a note. |
| post-action position of point on floor beneath
current center of gravity (a "kinematic place") |
black triangle with baseline horizontal (Illus,
item 6) |
| post-action position of spot on floor directly
below the base joint of the limb. (an open "anatomical place") |
small white circle inside larger circle. (think
white=open) |
| post-action position of spot on floor directly
beside the opposite foot (closed anatomical place). |
small black circle inside larger circle. (think
black=closed) |
| phantom position of a body part (this is most
often used when one is trying to notate a deviation from a standard position) |
circled number, phantom position defined in
note |
| as any of the above, but referenced to the immediate
pre-action position |
as any of the above, but underlined. |
| point in space to which last gesture, step or
touch
with left or right foot (if |
miniature action stroke sign, inside square.
Draw sign within left half of |
| any other part of room |
square with number inside (specify location
in note) |
4.3.3 Limb Crossing
 To show that one
limb crosses in front of or behind another, a crossing sign may be used.
This is a semicircular arc, convex upward to show a cross in front, convex
downward to show a cross behind. It may be accompanied by a degree marker
to show the size of the crossing. For example in a small crossing of the
right leg in front of the left, the right foot will be directly in front
of the left. In a moderate crossing, the right foot will be to the left
and in front of the left. In a large crossing, it will be directly to the
left of the left foot.
The degree marker is placed where the center of the circle defined by
the arc would be.
[consider symbols for crossing to the left vs. to the right, or
above vs. below]
4.4 Facing Signs
Facing signs are closely related to bearing signs. However, instead of
notating the direction which a pointer object (one part of the body) bears
with respect to a reference point (another part of the body, or some otherwise
defined point in space), they show the direction which a surface of the
body faces. Facing signs are usually used with the extremities (hand and
foot) or with the vitals (head, chest, pelvis).
A facing sign is differentiated from a bearing sign in thathorizontal
direction is shown by an arrowhead, not by an arrow (i.e., no shaft), and
in that the reference sign is an "x", to which the arrowhead and pin are
attached.
4.5 Body Rotation Sign
 The
direction of rotation of the body as a whole is shown by a body rotation
sign. In the figure, the top row shows the symbols for clockwise rotations,
and the bottom row, those for counterclockwise rotations. When all rotations
of the whole body are about the vertical axis, the simplified rotation
signs shown as the first item in each row may be used. Otherwise, the rotation
sign is modified to show the axis of rotation. The axis is represented
by an open circle and a facing sign is placed inside to show that, in determining
the sign of rotation (cw or ccw), we are facing down the indicated axis.
In the second column, the axis is vertical, and we look straight down it.
In the third column, the axis is left-and-right, and we determine cw and
ccw by looking to the left (i.e., the top symbol is a forward somersault
and the bottom a backward somersault). In the fourth column, the axis is
front-and-back, and the sign of rotation is found by looking forward (i.e.,
the top symbol is a cartwheel to the right and the bottom one a cartwheel
to the left). Other axes may be specified for special cases.
4.6 Limb Rotation Sign
The limb rotation signs look much like the body rotation signs. However,
in the case of the limb, the limb itself defines the axis of rotation,
so it is unnecessary to formally specify this. On the other hand, in the
case of body rotation, the degree of rotation is indicated by comparison
of the facing signs at the beginning and end of the rotation. In the case
of the limb, the degree of rotation is indicated by the rotation sign itself.
It is important to note that the limb rotation sign does not necessarily
indicate the degree of rotation of the limb in its socket. The rotation
may be of the wrist (or ankle) about the axis defined by the elbow-shoulder
(or knee-hip), or of the elbow (or knee) about the axis defined by the
wrist-shoulder (or ankle-hip). (Only the former is a pure "socket" rotation.)
The default meaning is a socket rotation. To show the other kind,
place the limb rotation sign in angle brackets.
A vertical line (|) indicates no rotation, a line slanting to the right
(/), rotation clockwise, and a line slanting to the left (\), rotation
counterclockwise.
There are two ways of showing the degree of rotation. To show it in
a general way, a degree marker is placed on the rotation line to indicate
the degree of the rotation. A black circle shows a small degree; an x,
a moderate degree; and a white circle, a large degree.
To show the degree of rotation more exactly, a pin is attached to the
center of the cw or ccw rotation sign. For a cw rotation pin (see illustration),
the pin pointing up shows a 0 deg rotation; up-right, a 45 deg. rotation,
and straight right, a 90 deg. rotation.
These cardinal rotations may then be modified by placing a degree sign
cw or ccw of the pin, showing a small, moderate or large deviation cw or
ccw, respectively, from the cardinal rotation. The ccw rotation pins are
the mirror image of the cw rotation pins. The illustration shows a few
of the possibilities for deviations from the cardinal rotations.
The upper arm can be rotated to slightly past the 90 deg. mark. While it
is possible to turn the palm from facing inward to facing outward, an overall
change of 180 deg., only the first half of this change is an upper arm
limb rotation. The rest is the result of the rotation of the lower arm.
Lower arm rotations are notated as changes in palm facing.
If you have difficulty judging the degree of rotation, try rotating
the limb, first all the way in one direction, then all the way in the other
direction. Try to identify the unrotated state, then estimate the correct
rotation.
4.7 Tilt Signs
When the limb rotation sign is placed so as to notate the posture of the
hand, foot, head, chest, or pelvis, it is called a tilt sign instead.
4.8 Limb Flexion Sign
Limb flexion may be indicated with three different levels of
precision. At the crudest level, one merely indicates whether
the limb is straight or bent. A straight limb is shown by a
horizontal line, and a bent limb by a horizontal line with a diagonal slash
(/) across it. (Think of the slash as meaning "not
straight").
Later, one may come back and specify how bent by placing a degree sign
on top of the slash. A very small degree sign (black square) means knees
slightly relaxed. A moderate degree sign (x) means a demi-plie.
A very large degree sign (white square) means a full plie. The black
circle would mean bent, but not as much as in a demi-plie,
and the white circle, a bend deeper than a demi-plie, but still not a full
plie.
One may also modify the character of a straight limb sign. To
show that the knee is locked, put a white square on the line. To show that
the knee is relaxed, put a black square on the line.
Alternatively, one may specify the angle of flexion to the nearest 45
degrees. or even more precisely if needed. .
 The
flexion of the limb at the elbow or knee is indicated by a flexion
sign. This symbol is intended to look like a straight or bent limb, thus
a straight (unflexed) limb is represented by a straight line and a flexed
limb by a bent line. There are five basic flexion signs (0, 45, 90, 135
and max degrees flexion from straight knee).
The "crooked line" flexion sign may be further modified, using degree
signs, to shows flexion angle which are not integer multiples of 45 degrees.
In the example, the sign for a 45 degree inward flexion is modified to
show (looking from bottom to top) a large inward, moderate inward, small
inward, no, small outward, moderate outward, or large outward deviation
from 45 degrees. (If still greater precision is required, a "note" should
be used.)
4.9 Body Part Representations
These body part symbols are used (1) to label columns, other than those
of the leg or arm staffs, to indicate the part of the body that is in motion,
(2) when placed above a touch stroke, to indicate the part of the body
being touched, (3) when placed below a touch stroke, to indicate the part
of the body which is doing the touching (if not the hand for the arm staff
or the foot for the leg staff), (4) to indicate, if support is through
a part of the body other than the feet, the part of the body which is giving
or receiving support, and (5) as reference points for those movements best
described as relative to a particular body part.
4.9.1 The Joints
 The
dancer's body is represented by a single vertical line (and a partner's
body by a double vertical line). To this reference line the notator attaches
a slanted line in order to indicate a particular joint of the body. The
slanted line slants upward from the reference line if the joint is on the
arm, and downward if it is on the leg.
The point of attachment of the slanted line to the vertical line indicates
which joint is involved. For the arm, it is attached at the top of the
vertical line to show the wrist, at the middle to show the elbow, and at
the bottom to show the shoulder. For the leg, it is attached at the bottom
to show the ankle, at the middle to show the knee, and at the top to show
the hip.
4.9.2 The Limb Segments
The symbol for a limb segment lying between two joints is obtained by superimposing
the signs for the two joints.
4.9.3 Spot on a Limb Segment
A spot on a limb segment is denoted by placing, beside the limb segment
sign, a "spot" sign.
A spot sign looks like a pin. The head of the pin is one of five degree
markers (a black square, a black circle, an "x", a white circle, and a
white square). These show where the spot lies along the limb, joint-to-joint.
The black square represents the proximal (inner) joint, and the white square
the distal (outer) joint. Thus, for the forearm, the black square is the
elbow and the white square is the wrist. The other degree markers indicate
intermediate points.
The pin proper points in one of eight directions, with the top of the
paper signifying "front". The "front" of a limb section is defined with
reference to a standard position of the body: Standing straight with feet
together and arms alongside the body, toes pointing forward and palms facing
inward. A rotation of alimb does not change what part of that limb is "front"
for the purposes of defining a "spot".
4.9.4 A Patch on a Limb Segment
A patch is a larger portion of the surface of a limb segment. It is defined
by combining the limb segment sign with two spot signs. These signs refer
to the diagonally opposite corners of a rectangular patch on the surface
of the limb segment.
4.9.5 The Extremities
The hands and feet are presently represented by modified wrist and ankle
signs, respectively. This part of the notation is tentative. The hands
and feet are considered limb segments in their own right; spots and patches
on the hands and feet may be shown with one or two spot signs.
4.9.6 The Head and Trunk
The signs for the head, neck, chest, waist, stomach, and pelvis are, like
the limb signs, based on a vertical reference line representing the dancer.
However, instead of attaching a slanting line to one side of the reference
line, these parts of the body are identified by a horizontal line which
crosses the reference line. For the chest, the connection is at the top
of the reference line, for the waist, it is at the middle, and for the
pelvis, it is at the bottom. The neck and head signs are modified chest
sign; either a black or white circle is placed above and touching the horizontal
line. The stomach sign is a modified pelvis sign; a black circle is placed
above and touching the horizontal line.
The head, neck, chest, waist, stomach and pelvis are each considered
body segments in their own right; spots and patches may be indicated.
The eyes, ears, nose and mouth may be identified by identifying a suitable
"spot" on the head. Thus, we use a the body part symbol for the head, together
with the appropriate spot sign: left eye (diag fwd left, white circle),
right eye (diag fwd right, white circle), nose (center fwd, "x"), left
ear (left, "x"), right ear (right, "x"), mouth (center fwd, black circle),
and point of chin (center fwd, black square). |
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