Another Idea for Indicating "Any Number of Movements in Place"

Another Idea for Indicating "Any Number of Movements in Place"
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - July 16, 2002

My July 16, 2002 posting in the Body Parts Thread describes a sign for "any number." This sign could be used in indications for “any number of movements in place,” as shown below. I like this idea better than what I had proposed previously in my April 10, 2000 posting in the Movement in Place Thread.

"Any Number" of Movements That Stay in Place

"Any Number" of Movements That Stay in Place
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - April 10, 2000
 
I've been thinking some more about how to indicate unspecified movements that stay in place (i.e., that do not travel). Maybe an action stroke and a place sign could be used to indicate one movement that stays in place, as in Ex. 1. How could that indication be modified to say any number of movements that stay in place? An indication for "any number" needs to be invented (see Ann Guest's Feb 10 comments in this thread). Maybe it could be derived from the sign for "number" shown in Ex. 2. The "any number" sign could be drawn as in Ex. 3 (i.e., with horizontal "any" signs). Thus "any number of unspecified movements that stay in place" could be indicated as in Ex. 4.

Axial Movement

Axial Movement
Submitted by Ann Hutchinson Guest - February 10, 2000
 
Charlotte Wile's June 10th, '99 submission and Lucy Apr. 23, '99, (I don't seem to have copies of the previous material): I am not happy with use of the spot hold sign for axial movement, ex. CWa), although it is a possibility. Lucy's background notes on axial movement were most helpful. Her example, LVa) needs an action line, as in A1.

Use in some way of the place (vertical) sign certainly seems logical, but we are up against the uses of the ad lib. sign with this rectangle. Ex. CWe) can't mean "any vertical direction". There is only one vertical direction, it is a question of level - up, down, or at the middle. And that is shown by the ad lib. sign being placed inside, vertically, A2. I find CWf) too vague, although it could be learned, but then - anything can be learned! Ray Cook's suggestion of June 10th, RC, states nothing about number of movements; I would not know how to interpret it. Would it relate to the sign for 'either side', A3?

Much as we hate negative statements, the simplest solution could be to indicate no traveling, the 'any traveling' sign crossed out, A4.

 







Charlotte's ending question brings up the need for a sign for 'any number'. This need arises elsewhere. Knust provided a sign for number of people, K1, another for number of steps (distance), K2, but number of movements does not come up in structured description. Any suggestions?

For Axial Movement Discussion

For Axial Movement Discussion
Submitted by Jimmyle Listenbee - December 1, 1999


I like Charlotte Wile's thinking, and support the need to notate general non-travelling movement. Lucy Venable's contribution, with her references to Anne Green Gilbert, moves us closer to the center of the problem, which is (I think): What Changes and What Remains the Same?


Gilbert's language comes from the science of Anatomy, referencing the Axial skeleton (as opposed to the Appendicular skeleton.) Dance educators who appropriated this term probably were seeing changes in spinal relationships. Laban's Space Theory uses the conceptual vocabulary of plane and solid Geometry, where the relationship of axis to orbit is so fundamental and germinal that it would not make sense to exclusively associate the term "Axis" with any particular set.


 The design of Wile's suggested symbol seems akin to Ann Guest's sign for "a shape" shown below. Both of them make me think of place middle, space holds and floor plans. I myself have recently been thinking on how/when/why to signify the still Form of a static Volume vs the Process of changing Shape. I view the Laban-Literacy community as being of two, mutually inclusive but not well-differentiated, frames of mind on these issues. I believe we need to return to, perhaps reexamine, our basic grammar for indicating movement vs. position. In the meantime, why don't we seek to align our language with that of anatomy & math, our two most intimately related disciplines of body and space. This would improve its academic credibility and its potential for interdisciplinary communication. I know everyone is tired of reinventing the wheel, but certainly not its axis.

Response to Jane Dulieu's comment posted on June 15

Response to Jane Dulieu's comment posted on June 15 [Axial Movement]
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - June 15, 1999

You're right Jane! Ex. g) should include the sign shown in f) rather than the sign for "any direction." Thanks for the correction.

Submitted by Jane Dulieu - June 15, 1999 [Axial Movement]

Submitted by Jane Dulieu - June 15, 1999 [Axial Movement] - June 15, 1999

I am really enjoying these discussions. Haven't yet considered the new sign fully. However, in discussion between Ann Guest and Charlotte Wile, should ex. g) include the new sign of ex. f) and not the any direction sign in the menu??

Symbol Suggestion

Symbol Suggestion
Submitted by Ray Cook - June 10, 1999

Maybe "any number of movements in place" could be indicated with the sign shown below.

NOTES ON THE INDICATION FOR MOVEMENT IN PLACE

NOTES ON THE INDICATION FOR MOVEMENT IN PLACE
Submitted by Ann Hutchinson Guest and Charlotte Wile - June 10, 1999

Comment by Charlotte:

I've been thinking further about Lucy's comments (April 23) and my response (April 28). I now agree with her that the sign I originally proposed probably does suggest one movement in place. The question then remains: How can one indicate movement in place without specifying the number and type of actions? A few days ago I discussed this issue and Lucy's ideas with Ann Hutchinson Guest. Following are some notes taken at that discussion.

 

Some Further Thoughts on Indicating "Movement in Place"

Some Further Thoughts on Indicating "Movement in Place"Submitted by Charlotte Wile - April 28, 1999

The definitions Lucy Venable cited on April 23 are very useful. I agree that "axial movement" is probably not the best term for the indication shown in Ex. a) below. Perhaps just saying "movement in place" is better.

I think Lucy's method of indicating moving in place, as in Ex. b), is a good idea for certain situations. However, I believe Ex. a) and Ex. b) make slightly different statements.

As I see it, Ex. b) is more specific. It says do three movements of equal duration in place; the last movement is continued freely at a relatively moderate tempo. In contrast, Ex. a) only says "move in place"; no other aspects of the movement are stated.

Perhaps my interpretation of Ex. a) would be clearer if I compare it with the sign for meandering, which is shown in Ex. c). As I understand it, the sign for meandering simply says "go from one place to another." Nothing else is indicated. The type(s), number, path(s) and timing of the movements used to travel is (are) irrelevant. The focus is not on the movements or paths; rather it is on idea of going from one place to another.

The opposite of meandering is moving in place. Here too the type(s), number and timing of the movements that one does in place is (are) irrelevant. The focus is just on moving in place.

Perhaps the opposite of meandering could be indicated with a meandering sign that has a slash through it, as in Ex. d). However, that indication seems to make a negative statement: "don't meander, don't go from one place to another." Ex. a) has a similar meaning, except it makes the positive statement, "move in place.

Thoughts on "axial movement"

Thoughts on "axial movement"
Submitted by Lucy Venable - April 23, 1999
 
I'm very familiar with axial and locomotor as terms so I thought you [Charlotte Wile] were trying to symbolized these ideas as often used in dance education. They are mentioned in many texts about teaching dance as you know. I found this was specifically addressed and defined in the three books below:
 
Locomotor/nonlocomotor (bend, twist, stretch, swing, push, fall, melt, sway, turn, spin, dodge, kick, poke, lift, carvfe, [sic.] curl, lunge, slash, dab, punch, flick, float, glide, press, wring, shake, rise, sink, burst, wiggle, etc.) in Anne Green Gilbert's Creative Dance For All Ages.
 
Movements are divided into two categories - those that are done in one place and those that transport the body from one place to another. Axial and locomotor movements. Axial movements involve trunk, leg, arms, head in actions such as bending, stretching, swinging, swaying, pushing, pulling, turning, twisting. Betty Rowen in Dance and Grow.
 
Locomotor Movements propel the body through space and Body Movements project the body in space and emanate from a fixed base around the axis of the body from a sitting, standing kneeling or lying position including bending, stretching, swinging, swaying, pushing, pulling, turning, twisting. Children Dance in the Classroom by Geraldine Dimonstein.
 
These definitions don't include stepping and jumping which you seem to consider axial movements in your description of exs. d) and e) [see March 11, 1999 submitted by Charlotte Wile] because they stay in place. That isn't what is already understood as "axial movement" in the field, therefore I think another name needs to be found for what you want.
 
There is also the idea of staying in 'place" in nonlocomotor movement. Did you consider some use of that symbol? If you jump in the air you are not staying on the same spot but you do jump in place.
 
By putting the spot hold on a single line I read it as one movement, but though you don't say axial movements (plural) I think that's what you mean. Is it? If so, I would favor using the action stroke or stepping or jumping to show the movements/actions and beside them an addition bow adding the spot hold. Then an example might look like:

Re: Jane Dulieu [Axial Movement]

Re: Jane Dulieu's comments [Axial Movement]
by Charlotte Wile - Posted March 25, 1999

I agree that the word "axial" may suggest movement around an axis, i.e., turning. After reading Jane's comments it also occurred to me that the term could be confusing because someone might think it refers to a Space Harmony (Choreutics) "Axis Scale." I've been trying to think of another term that might work better. Maybe "stationary movement," or "movement in place."

Or maybe someone else can think of a better term.

Submitted by Jane Dulieu [Axial Movement]

Submitted by Jane Dulieu [Axial Movement] - Posted March 23, 1999

Ann [Hutchinson Guest] also describes axial movement on page 54 of Your Move as "When moving around our center without changing location (known as 'axial' movement), we find we are in the center of a sphere."I have always understood axial movement to be non-locomotor but also have reference to moving around one's axis, therefore incorporating twisting/rotating but not stepping. Don't know if this is helpful, but I'll look for more information.

Response to "Question [Axial Movement]"

Response to "Question [Axial Movement]"
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - March 19, 1999

This is in response to Ilene Fox's question posted on March 18.

The term "axial movement" is used by Ann Hutchinson Guest in Your Move: A New Approach to the Study of Movement and Dance. In her glossary of terms she says axial movement is "movement around the body's center (in contrast to locomotor movement" (p. 309).

I believe the term has been used in dance education for a long time. For instance, in Modern Dance: Building and Teaching Lessons by Aileene Lockhart (Iowa: Brown, 1951), p.108, it says axial movements are "non-locomotor movements taken on a stationary base; movement of the body around its own axis."

I suppose one could also refer to the sign I discussed on March 11 as the indication for unspecified "non-locomotor movement" or "non-traveling movement."

However, I don't like those terms because they make a negative statement. i.e., They tell the mover to focus on not traveling. In contrast, when I say "do axial movement," I am making a positive statement.

Question [Axial Movement]

Question [Axial Movement]
Submitted by Ilene Fox - March 18, 1999

Why do you call movement that does not travel "axial movement?"

Suggestion for an Unspecified Axial Movement Sign

Suggestion for an Unspecified Axial Movement Sign
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - March 11, 1999

I would like to establish a sign that indicates unspecified axial movement, i.e., movement that stays in place and does not travel. As far as I know, such a sign has not been standardized. I have been using the indication in Ex. a. It is derived from an action stoke and a spot hold. Ex. b-e illustrate how the sign can be used. I would be interested in knowing what others think of the sign, or if they have a better idea for such an indication.