What is Language of Dance^®?

Language of Dance^® (LOD), created by world renowned movement specialist Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest, is a teaching approach that facilitates movement and dance experience and understanding through exploring the Movement Alphabet, the building blocks of movement. Progression develops from these basic components to more subtle and complex combinations, without the experience of dance being confined to a specific style or genre.

In the LOD approach, the main components, the Movement Alphabet, are represented by basic Motif Notation symbols together with the corresponding movement/dance terminology. The LOD approach promotes the transference of the physical experience of dance to an intellectual understanding, thus providing a language for discussion and evaluation and providing a sound construct for the dance-making process.

LOD classes and workshops include exploring, creating, observing and analysing movement and provide the opportunity to record movement and dance using symbols. Choreography and dance-making tasks encourage self-expression and develop problem-solving skills. Through performance participants develop physical coordination and self-confidence. Skills in perception, appreciation, interpretation, evaluation and communication are developed through observation and use of the movement vocabulary.

What is Motif Notation?
Motif Notation is a simplified form of Labanotation, which is a structured system of symbols for recording movement on paper. Motif Notation makes general statements about movement, allowing greater freedom in interpretation of what the movement can be.

Why not visit our children's corner to see LOD in action!