Re: Questions About Turns and Paths, part 4

Re: Questions About Turns and Paths, part 4
Submitted by DNB Notators - March 26, 2007

The answer to your question about focal point indications can be found in Ann Hutchinson Guest, Labanotation, 4th edition, pp. 174-175; Muriel Topaz, Elementary Labanotation (1996), pp. 119-121, 130.

We would be curious to know which references you are using in your studies. A list of the books we usually recommend for people who are studying Labanotation can be found in "Studying Labanotation," located in the left side menu of the DNB web site.

You asked if there is a way to notate turns more easily in ballroom dance. Some people find using focal point indications easier, because they relate to places outside the body. But others prefer writing the total amount of turning during the steps.

Guest, Labanotation, contains further information about notating ballroom dance, e.g., page 382.

Re: Path signs and steps in place. Usually path signs should not be used with steps in place. However, as a convention, in certain situations the path sign can be used with steps in place, as in the example you give. Also, when notating a circular path, steps in place can be included if they are interspersed throughout the path, e.g., step, together, step, together, step. In your example 2b in your first posting, the step in place occurs at the end of the movement. Since that step in place does not contribute to the path, the path sign should end after the second step, as shown below. See pages 168-170 in Guest, Labanotation.

We are confused by your last question "Is it correct to notate multiple sequences like picture 2b...?" Do you mean repeat the 3 steps multiple times?