LABANOTATION

system of recording human movement, originated by Hungarian Rudolf Laban and first published in 1928 as Kinetographie Laban. The basic symbol used in writing Labanotation is the rectangle, which is modified in shape to show direction of movement; in length to show duration of movement (rhythm); and in shade to show level. Labanotation is written on a vertical, three-line staff, with the centre line representing division of the body into left and right halves and the two columns used for symbols indicating means of support and left and right leg gestures. Additional columns of symbols show position for body, arms, hands, and head. The staff is read from bottom to top and is written from the performer's point of view rather than from the observer's. Labanotation is the most widely used of all movement-notation systems, for it incorporates all necessary directives in one set of symbols and clearly indicates the relation of one movement to those that precede and follow. It has been used in anthropology, physical therapy, drama, and industrial production studies and in recording movement in such sports as diving and ice skating. It is most frequently utilized, however, in recording dance choreographies. Unlike earlier dance-notation systems, Labanotation is not derived from or confined to a particular dance form and so has been employed to record a wide variety of dance styles, including ballet and modern, Spanish, African, and Hindu dance. Several major choreographers have made extensive use of Labanotation, becauseunlike motion pictures or videotapes, which record only one particular performanceLabanotation is able to record with exactness all the original specifications of the choreographer. The increasingly widespread use of Labanotation has resulted in the establishment of several dance-notation centres, notably in the United States and Great Britain. Labanotation scripts are accepted for copyright purposes. See also dance notation.