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.