Resources
Several individuals and organizations have made significant contributions to the documentation of dance, ensuring its preservation and accessibility for future generations. These contributions span different aspects of the art form, including notation systems, film and video recordings, archival practices, and scholarly works.
Early Innovators and Selected Dance Notation Systems:
Beauchamp-Feuillet, Pierre Beauchamp and Raoul-Auger Feuillet, France (1680’s)
Zorn, Friedrich Albert Zorn, Germany (1887)
Stepanov, Vladimir Ivanovich Stephanoz, Russia (1892)
Labanotation, Rudolf Laban, Germany/England (1920’s)
Benesh, Rudolf Benesh, England (1940’s)
Choreoscript, Alwin Nikolais, USA (1945)
Eshkol-Wachman, Abraham Wachmann and Noa Eshkol, Israel (1951)
Sutton Dance Writing, Valerie Sutton, USA (1974)
Organizations and Institutions:
Dance Notation Bureau
This organization in New York City focuses on recording and preserving dance using Labanotation and other systems.
The Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the New York Public Library
One of the largest and most comprehensive dance archives in the world, housing films, manuscripts, photographs, and other resources.
Jacob’s Pillow
Maintains a significant archive of performances, interviews, and other materials documenting decades of dance history.
Dance Heritage Coalition
A collaborative project dedicated to preserving and disseminating America’s dance legacy through digital and physical archives.
Textual Resources:
Guest, Ann Hutchinson. Labanotation
Ch. 1 "A Brief History of Dance Notation."
Ch. 12 "Paths."
"Scoring Paths."
Guest, Ann Hutchinson. Your Move
Ch. 2 "Traveling."
Nikolais, Alwin and Louis, Murray. The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique: A Philosophy and Method of Modern Dance
“Movement Range” (p. 29).
“The Dimensional Concept” (pp. 63–64).
“Week 1: Locomotion and Dimensions” (pp. 98–108).
“Week 19: Diagonals” (pp. 217–219).
“Week 20: Circles” (pp. 220–223).
Topaz, M. Elementary Labanotation
"Floor Plans."
These contributors and entities have played essential roles in preserving dance as both an art form and a cultural practice, ensuring its continued vibrancy and relevance.