A System of Ethnic Dance Notation

Abstract

s a student of ethnochoreography I found myself facing a major problem while trying to record and discuss ethnic dances: namely, how can one notate quickly while doing field work, and then write papers for others in related fields to study. The need seems to be for a system that is basic, flexible (for use with various forms), yet with a minimum set of symbols that might be followed by interested scholars. A few years back I found myself studying a dance form which I was unable, at the time, to perform. Necessity mothered the invention which I present here. Several persons in the field of dance and ethnochoreography have requested me to have it published. With this presentation I hope to receive responses from any interested student or scholar who might find it useful in his work. The only way to test its value is to have it tried for its merits or failures. Where there appear to be inadequacies I should like very much to hear and know of them along with possible suggestions for remedies. At the time this system evolved I was studying the classical dance form of South India, called Bharata Natyam, and, specifically, the special basic movements, called adavus, which occur in the pure dance passages (nrtta). Adavus make up a beautifully progressive system of discipline designed to teach the student the entire range of possibilities that can be used in the dances themselves. This notation system seems satisfactory for this particular solo dance form, even admitting the possibility of recording differences in style between one dancer and another.