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JaQuel Knight and Notators Lynne Weber and Sian Ferguson Visit with Ohio State Dance’s Labanotation Class

December 13, 2022

JaQuel Knight and Notators Lynne Weber and Sian Ferguson Visit with Ohio State Dance’s Labanotation Class

Students sitting on floor of dance studio

Award-winning choreographer and creative director, JaQuel Knight, visited with Ohio State Dance’s Labanotation class on November 14, 2022. Knight, known for his choreography for notables such as Beyonce, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, along with notators Lynne Weber and Sian Ferguson, discussed the Labanotation scores of “Single Ladies” and “WAP” that dance majors in Ohio State Dance’s undergraduate program have been reading and dancing in class. Knight talked about his development of video work, live choreographic works, and his philosophy behind securing copyright through notating his choreography in Labanotation. He talked about, “How do we identify this sort of movement in a space that generally doesn’t include people of color, and how do we garner respect, and be a part of the narrative and history.” Knight’s JaQuel Knight Foundation has been instrumental in helping the next generation of artists and in 2021 he and his foundation partnered with Logitech for Creators and the Dance Notation Bureau to help ten BIPOC choreographers secure copyright for their own choreography through Labanotated scores. The talk was sponsored by funds from Dr. Valarie Williams’ Ronald and Deborah Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award.