Expert: Jennifer - 11/12/2004

Question
Hi Jennifer,
my knowledge of ballet /dance is about null..although I've enjoyed a performance or two in my life :)

This a question I've been wondering about.  I've seen  musical scores, including the sheets  used for an orchestra ensemble: the time (beat) goes right to left in "measures", and down the sheet are lined the notes for the particular instruments, piano, violin, etc.  

How are ballet movements written down?
For an individual, as well as an ensemble?

Is there any sort of typical sheet where the dancer could write down
time  -                  ----->---->---->---->
movement name: ----->---->---->---->

so moves are matched with the beat /orchestra?
:)
sorry, I don't even know how to ask the question!
Rena

Answer
Hi, Rena!

You ask a very good question -- it is out of my own expertise, but I will try to point you in the right direction.

There is no universally known dance notation that all dancers know. Dancers, both professional and amateur, learn choreography (the set movements of a dance) directly from their teacher, choreographer, or mentor. It is a sort of "oral tradition" in a way.

There are at least two standardized notations for dance... but it takes a graduate education to master them! The most widely used, Labanotation (created by a dance scholar named Laban), is very complicated. Usually trained scholars record and interpret the notations for choreographers and dancers, who cannot read them.

I don't know if Labanotation takes into consideration music and counts, and if it does, I don't know how. I was just hoping to give you somewhere to start on your research.

I hope this helps!