Labanotation
Labanotation (Kinetography Laban in Europe) is a structured system for analyzing and recording movement with symbols. Each symbol has four elements: direction (shape of symbol), level (shading), timing (length of symbol), which body part is involved (placement on staff). Symbols are laid out on a staff, which reads from bottom to top and left to right.
For more information visit:
- Dance Notation Bureau, New York
- International Council of Kinetography Laban
- LabanLab – Interactive Labanotation Tutorials
- Introduction to Labanotation
- Labanotation Basics
Motif Description
Motif Description is a form of Labanotation that pares movement down to its essence — actions and stillness. Many of the same symbols from Labanotation are used in Motif. In Motif Description, only the most essential aspects of a movement are recorded. Motif is used in a variety of ways: composition, teaching children, movement analysis, or highlighting a character's action in a scene for example.
For more information visit:
- Labanotation Basics
- Language of Dance Center, USA
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (formerly Laban Centre)
Laban Movement Analysis
Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) is a language for observing and describing movement developed by Rudolf Laban. The categories for observation are: Body (articulation), Space (design), and Effort (quality). The most well-known aspect is the Effort theory. The Effort category describes qualitative aspects of movement, comprised of Space (Direct/Indirect), Weight (Strong/Light), Time (Sudden/Sustained), and Flow (Free/Bound). LMA, like Labanotation, uses symbols. LMA is used in movement research, choreography and style analysis, even behavioral sciences.
For more information visit:
- Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies
- Integrated Movement Studies
Other Notation Systems/Software
- Benesh Notation Editor
- Movement and Notation Overview
- Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation
- Greenotation for African Drumming
- Sutton Movement Writing
- Kahnotation for Tap
- LED & LINTEL Windows Mini-Editor and Interpreter for Labanotation (website currently unavailable)
- SignWriter Notation for Signed Languages
- Lifeforms Character Animation Software
- LabanPad PDA