Making the floor plans more visual and informative

Making the floor plans more visual and informative

Submitted by Ray Cook - August 12, 1999

Making the floor plans more

1) visual
2) informative

Some of these examples are not new - but it may be a good idea to pool all of the devices used to enlarge the possibilities of a logical development of what we already have.

One person. (Ex. 1a)

More than one -with a change of relationship. (Ex. 1b)

More than one - without a change of relationship. (Ex. 1c-e)

The indications in 1c-e are from design drawing (1f), which is what a floor plan really is - a design on a flat surface.

Floor plan 2a shows two different paths, and as we often told to make adjustments (which are seldom written), the reader does not know how to interpret this plan.

Traveling back on the same path. The notation would tell which way to travel first. (Ex. 2b)

Combined with Labanotation the plan in 2c ca only be read as travel first to the right, because if you went first to the left and then to the right you would encounter an arrow head pointing in the wrong directions. 

One plan showing a projected path is more helpful than two plans, especially when on two different pages. (Ex. 3a-c)
 

An aerial movement on 1/4, 1/2, 1/4 lines. (Ex. 4a)

One can also indicate the type of aerial movement by incorporating Motif. Writing. 

Positions on the path at which an aerial movement, holding, and turning occur. (Ex. 4c)

An important change of facing can be shown on one floor plan. (Ex. 4d)

A change of facing while traveling. (Ex. 4e)

In floor plans 5a and 5 b "a" and "b" represent two phrases ot two steps.  The number 9, 10, 11, and 12 are measure numbers. By identifying the phrases on the floor plan it is immediately visual as to what is done where - and that in measure 11 the two dancers perform the "b" phrase side by side phrase side by side.

When the measure numbers are placed on the path sign it is obvious where the movement occurs and that in measure 4 more space is traveled than in measures 5, 6, or 7. (Ex. 5c)

 
By repeating the identification on the path you can show who ends where. (Ex. 6a)

In a compound floor plan there is nothing to tell the reader what part of each floor plan is occurring simultaneously with another dancer. If it does not matter 7a may do, but if it is important, the points at which to break the path are important. This final design must be seen - all at the same time, as in 7b.

Floor plan 8b gives information that conflicts with the Labanotation shown in 8a. Floor plan 8b is not visual (i.e., the dancer does not face stage front to travel), and requires more work and use of memory than 8c.

Floor plan 8c gives accurate information.

Floor plan 9a shows five dancers with a path for dancer "Q." This type of floor plan - perhaps one for every dancer - shows the over all path for "Q" AND

1. Where she pases "N," "M," "R."
2. On which side of her
2. "S" crosses her path at the point shown.

If facing is important it may be shown.

If floor plan 10a "D" is turning on the spot. To give him a facing pin gives the wrong image. PLEASE!!! Do not say the indication for "D" may be confused with the center of weight sign.

Ab libitum:


The ad lib. sign in 11a does not say more or less one circle. I suggest that we add a plus sign for more and a minus sign for less, as in 11b, c.