About the Process
The DanceScript process occurs in a series of chronological steps progressing from the selection of the dance to the completion of the script. Here is an outline of a typical process:
- Selection of a Work Phase
- Choreographers/companies are invited or recommended.
- The primary contact representing the choreographer/company is identified.
- A consultation is held with the potential choreographer/company.
- The dance selected to be scripted is confirmed.
- A determination is made on the need for the creation of a Master Documentation Video involving a video shoot or if an existing, unedited wide shot of the dance will be used.
- The valuation of the project is determined based on the duration of the dance, the number of dancers involved, and the complexity of the choreography.
- Solicitation of funding commitment is secured from dance organizations or granting institutions.
- A feasible timeline is created and agreed upon by the choreographer/company.
- The choreographer/company and the notator sign a contract for the proposed script.
- Pre-production Phase
- Information is collected regarding the typical or intended stage dimensions for the work.
- A project-specific DanceScript Stage Template is created with the appropriate aspect ratio and the designated number of wings. This includes credits that should appear in the script.
- Pertinent information about the work is collected to ensure the script works intuitively with those who know the dance best. This includes details about the structure of the work, timing markers for various sections, and any identifiers commonly used to reference landmarks or sections of the choreography.
- The Production Phase 1 – Creating the DanceScript Document
- A Documentation Video Shoot is conducted (if needed).
- Master Reference Video is edited using the video created during the Documentation Video Shoot or from an unedited wide shot selected from the choreographer’s/company’s archive.
- A Stage Grid Overlay containing vertical and horizontal references is applied to the Master Reference Video making it easier to identify the placement of dancers on stage.
- A Dancer Reference Sheet is created that assigns a number to each dancer for use throughout the script. The dancer numbers typically follow the same order as when the dancers appear on stage.
- The amount of choreography that can be illustrated on a single page is determined and the beginning and ending timecode for each page is calculated.
- A frame-by-frame tracking of each dancer from start to finish is created that includes placement markers, pathways (the pathways that occur during the duration represented in the current page), shadow pathways (the pathways that brought each dancer to the current page), dancer notes, and other information about the duration of time and count structures for each page. This step represents the bulk of the work needed to create a DanceScript.
- A color-illustrated draft of the script is generated in PDF format for easy sharing. This is considered the DanceScript Document.
- Refinements and Adjustments Phase
- The most recent draft of the DanceScript Document is shared with the choreographer/company for feedback. This may include a list of questions from the notator that require input from those most familiar with the dance.
- The choreographer/company provides clarifications for edits, as needed.
- Adjustments are made to the document draft and a final DanceScript Document is created.
- The final DanceScript Document is provided to the choreographer/company for final approval.
- A designated expert from the contracted choreographer/company provides final approval of the script.
- The Production Phase 2 – Creating the DanceScript Synchronized Video
- Individual still images are created for video from the final, approved DanceScript Document.
- The Master Reference Video and the video stills are imported into a video editing software program, such as Final Cut Pro X.
- Visual markers are placed in the Master Reference Video at the start time for each page of the script.
- A split-screen DanceScript Synchronized Video containing the Master Reference Video and the still images from the DanceScript Document is created and labeled with the appropriate credits.
- Two versions of the DanceScript Synchronized Video are exported, a full-quality .mov for archiving purposes and a compressed .m4v for online viewing.
- The DanceScript Synchronized Videos are provided to the contracted choreographer/company via a file-sharing platform, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Archival Submission Phase
- The DanceScript Document and the DanceScript Synchronized Videos are provided to archival organizations specializing in dance preservation. This may be done by the choreographer/company or by the DanceScript notator, if requested.
- Once DanceScript media has been completed, these dance artifacts may be used for research and restaging purposes with the expressed permission of the choreography’s copyright owner.
Through these methods, DanceScript ensures that the intricate pathways and spatial designs of choreographies are meticulously recorded, facilitating both preservation and analysis. Once DanceScript media has been completed and archived, these artifacts may be used for research and restaging purposes with the expressed permission of the choreography’s copyright owner.