FAQs
Click questions to reveal the answers.
- Q What is the Language of Dance®?
- A It is an approach to experiencing and understanding movement based on the Movement Alphabet®.
- Q What is the Movement Alphabet®?
- A The Movement Alphabet® is the list of root actions of which all movement, hence all forms of dance, are comprised. Each ‘letter’ of the Alphabet represents a movement category.
- Q How does the Movement Alphabet® relate to the Language of Dance® approach to movement?
- A The Language of Dance® approach to movement begins by exploring and experiencing the concepts of the Movement Alphabet®. As the Movement Alphabet® list provides a clear guide, or reference ‘map’ for this process it directly underpins the teaching of Language of Dance®.
- Q Previous dancers, dance teachers and choreographers did not have the Movement Alphabet® or Language of Dance® as part of their equipment in studying dance, where did this list come from?
- A A few lists of the basic movements in dance existed in the past but none was satisfactory; the present list was codified in 1967 by ex-dancer, teacher and movement researcher Ann Hutchinson Guest.
- Q How can dance be structured as a language?
- A Language of Dance® provides many equivalent components to a spoken and written language. It has similar ‘parts of speech’ that together help an artist understand and communicate movement sense and construction.
- The verbs: these are the actions, that is, what is happening, movements such as travelling, springing, transference of weight, balance, falling and so on.
- The adverbs: how the actions are performed, the dynamics, the timing, expression and intent.
- The nouns: what is moving, the parts of the body involved, also a partner, an object being handled, or a part of the room or stage.
- A Language of Dance® provides many equivalent components to a spoken and written language. It has similar ‘parts of speech’ that together help an artist understand and communicate movement sense and construction.
- Q What other aspect is unique to the Language of Dance® approach to movement?
- A Each basic category of movement is represented by a simple symbol. These symbols help to clarify the different movement possibilities and provide a memory aid. In addition they provide a means through which movement ideas and sequences can be written down. These symbols, called Motif Notation, provide the foundation for dance literacy.
- Q Why and by whom was the Language of Dance® approach to movement developed?
- A Language of Dance® was created by the world-renowned movement and notation researcher Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest. Having for many years been involved with Labanotation, the system for recording movement initiated by Rudolf Laban, she realized that she had been putting the cart before the horse. To make use of movement notation, a person first has to be familiar with and understand movement. Once the world of movement had been explored and understood, describing it, recording it through the use of symbols became easy and logical. Focus must, therefore, be first on movement, beginning with a broad, general investigation; specific details come later.
- Q Is the Language of Dance® approach to movement appropriate for children?
- A Children love to move. They learn through both visual and physical means hence their joy in discovering each Movement Alphabet® ‘letter’ and their ease in relating to the symbols. Not only does it enhance their motor skills but also their creativity. Generating their own sequences is like a game, they see it written down and they enjoy performing the movements they have chosen.
- Q In the movement exploration, how much freedom are the children given?
- A For each task there is a central discipline. If the topic is travelling, they must travel on the path indicated – straight, curved, circular, etc., but how they do so is their choice. Specifications such as having to start on the right foot and take six steps; comes later as they become physically more coordinated. Gradually more and more details are included until they arrive at a finished form.
- Q Is the Language of Dance® approach to movement appropriate to older students and adults?
- A The process of exploring the raw material of dance provides an enlightening and revealing experience for all who have grown up learning structured forms of movement. They begin to recognize the component parts of familiar actions and positions and hence experience them in a more insightful way. Creating choreography through such basic movement ideas and concepts provides welcome new paths and fresh approaches.
- Q What about teachers and choreographers? Has Language of Dance® additional value for them?
- A The Language of Dance® approach promotes the transference of the physical experience of dance to an intellectual understanding that enhances student learning as well as the dance-making process. In gaining these skills and developing a sense of ownership, students grow in confidence and in perceptual skills. The movement terminology introduced from the start, provides an important means of communication and can save time and confusion. This is particularly helpful for children or participants with learning difficulties who, with Language of Dance®, are able to talk about their movement ideas and comment on what they are observing in the performances of others.
- Q What does a Language of Dance® class consists of?
- A
- topic related warm up
- introduction of movement concept e.g. travelling
- creative movement exploration
- an explanation of the related movement symbols
- development of the movement ideas, leading to composition
- performance of the choreographed sequences
- discussion and appreciation of the work explored and created
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- Q Where is Language of Dance® taught?
- A Language of Dance® is currently being taught in diverse settings within the U.K. and the U.S.A. In private and state schools, dance studios, in college and university dance departments. Language of Dance® is also flourishing in Japan and Mexico with interest in it developing in other Asian and European countries.
- Q Is Language of Dance® part of movement/dance education in the school system?
- A Language of Dance® directly supports the P.E. and Dance National Curriculum (Key Stages 1-5) in the U.K. and the National Standards in Dance in the U.S.A. It also has direct benefits for higher education courses especially those that involve notation.
- Q How and where can I study Language of Dance®?
- A Courses of different types are offered to suit the wide range of participants:
- Introductory workshops as taster days or week-ends
- INSET courses
- Lecture demonstrations
- Modular course during the year
- Intensive one week or two week courses all aimed at providing the opportunity to attain qualifications at the different levels.
- A Courses of different types are offered to suit the wide range of participants:
- Q What are the different levels of qualification?
- A
- Stage One introduces the Fundamentals
- Stage Two focuses on Developing the Language of Dance®
- Stage Three concerns application of Language of Dance® in different teaching situations, leading to the qualification of a Language of Dance® Specialist.
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- Q What study materials are available to support learning Language of Dance®?
- A The book that serves as a text in the courses, Your Move, by Dr Ann Hutchinson Guest. For teachers incorporating Language of Dance® in their classes, there are various teaching aids, teaching packs which directly relate to school subjects. For young children there are imaginative stories and quiz sheets to fill out. Please see the Language of Dance® Centre’s publications list for further details.