5 GENERAL INDICATIONS
Here we discuss those aspects of the dance which are notated in the general
section of the score, namely, the movement of the dancer across the stage,
and the dancer's general orientation relative to the stage.
5.1 Movement of the Dancer Across the Stage
The dancer's movement across the stage is shown by floor direction or floor
vector signs, which indicate the direction (and optionally, the distance)
traveled from the previous position of the dancer (or some other reference
point). This movement is notated both in the travel column, and in the
appropriate action stroke column.
The travel column in the general section is ordinarily used only to
indicate the direction and distance of travel in the external frame
of reference, while symbols above the step action stroke indicate the direction
and distance of travel in the body frame of reference. The travel
column is usually used only when the two directions differ as a results
of changes of facing.
The direction is shown by an arrow. An arrow pointing straight up the
page indicates forward, i.e., toward the center of the room, the musicians,
or the audience. The arrow can point in any of eight directions.
The distance traveled is shown by either a 3-way degree sign (representing
less-than-normal, normal, or greater-than-normal movement) or by a number
representing the distance traveled as measured in foot-lengths, in either
case placed alongside the shaft of the arrow. The length of the dancer's
foot is used as a distance unit, rather than some standard unit like the
foot or meter, because (1) it is the one "ruler" the dancer will always
have available; and (2) it is more usual for the proper length of a step
to be determined by the body proportions than to be an absolute value.
The distance indication may be omitted, in which case a "natural" distance
is assumed.
The reference point for steps, when notated in the travel column, is
"place". Labanotation defines this as the point on the floor which is directly
below the dancer's center of gravity just before the dancer commences the
step.
If this definition were strictly adhered to, then, normal walking straight
forward would need to be notated to show the very slight side-to-side movement
of the center of gravity as, after each step, the body balanced weight
over the supporting foot. Labanotators choose to ignore this fine point.
However, this system defines matters differently, so as to avoid inconsistency.
If, when taking a step, the stepping leg was initially free, we define
"place" as being the spot on the floor immediately below the base joint
of the stepping leg. One could call this the "anatomical place"; it is
the location where the stepping leg may step with the least effort, and
allows steps to be notated both naturally and accurately. Otherwise, we
follow the Labanotation approach.
Please note that a different reference point is used when showing the
direction of a step by a leg staff symbol.
While a curved path can be defined by a series of arrows, with a gradual
change in direction, this notation also includes special symbols for defining
curved movements. Since these symbols apply not only to the path of the
dancer on the stage, but also to the path of an individual body part, they
will be discussed later in this monograph.
5.2 Whole Body Facing and Rotation
The facing column describes how the dancer is oriented relative to "front",
as determined using an external frame of reference. For a stage performance,
"front" is toward the audience. For most folk or ballroom dances, "front"
is toward the center of the room. For an English country dance, or a contra,
"front" is toward the musicians. If there is any doubt as to the meaning
of "front", it should be defined in a key signature.
Normally, the direction the dancer's chest faces is considered to be
the direction that the "dancer as a whole" faces. However, on occasion
it may be more logical to consider the dancer's head, pelvis, or leg stance
to be determinative of "facing". In these situations, a "note" is used
to specify that the facing is unusual.
The facing symbol is a simple arrowhead which can point in any of eight
possible directions (see figure). When it points toward the top of the
page, that means facing "forward". Unless otherwise specified, "forward"
is considered to mean facing the audience (if on stage) or the musicians
(if in a dance hall), or toward the center of the room (if the dancers
are in an open or closed circle in the room). These facing symbols are
a subset of the facing symbols used in describing which way a part of the
body (e.g., the palm) is facing.
Rotation is, in essence, the path by which the dancer moves from one
facing to another. Consequently, a rotation sign will connect two facing
signs, one showing the initial facing, the other, the final facing. Rotation
is most often about the vertical axis, as in a pivot turn. However, rotation
can also be about other axes, as in a cartwheel or a somersault. For details,
see the section on rotation signs.
 To
fully describe a turn, we notate the initial facing, the direction of the
rotation, and the final facing, as shown in the figure. The duration of
the rotation is shown by the length of the dotted line which connects the
initial and final facing symbols.
The rotation sign is centered on this dotted line.
In the figure, the score states that the dancer initially faces forward
and, after turning clockwise, ends facing backward. The minimum rotation
required for this change in facing is a 1/2 turn. The "+1" appearing besides
the rotation sign indicates that the rotation includes one extra turn,
i.e., a total of 1 1/2 turns. |
