How To Take Dance Notes Quickly

Use This Easy-to-Remember Shorthand

(reprinted from ZAGHAREET! "For Beginners", July/Aug 2004)
by Anthea Kawakib Poole

Take Note!

The complex subject of Dance Notation is not usually covered in belly dance classes, so if you haven't studied any formal dance notation systems you'll need to make up your own. That's what I did, and I'll share my shortcuts with you below.

If you get written dance notes from teachers in class or at workshops, you may wonder: why bother to take notes?

Here's why: besides learning actual body movements, if you listen in class you may hear about:

concepts and ideas that explain why things are done the way they are;
notes on costuming;
or even cultural and historical information.

In addition, the mental process of converting your body movements into visual, written notes gives you a more complete learning experience, just like alphabet blocks can help children learn to read. The seeds of knowledge falling from your teacher's lips will take root better if you convert them into written form, plus you'll certainly need a method of notation when you're composing dances at home. So it is very helpful to take learn how to take dance notes.

This Glossary below is from my Dance Combinations page; and I'll include some graphic symbols I use as well.

Glossary of Abbreviations

B=Back
ct(s).=Count(s)
CCW=Counter-clockwise
CW=Clock-Wise
D=Down
F=Forward or Front
fl=Flat foot
I=In
L=Left
LOD=Line of Dance
o=Ball of the foot
o/h=Over-Head
O=Out
(p)=Pause
P=palm(s)
pl=PLace
R=Right
rep.=Repeat
S=Step
t=Touch (not a 'weighted' step)
tog.=together
u=Up
X=Cross
__x=times (how many: 3x means 'repeat 3 times')

Symbols

These graphic symbols save time when notating by hand, but if you type your notes later you may have to spell out "pivot" "lift" "drop" and "shimmy" (illustrated in "Figure A' below from left to right) since there's nothing similar on the keyboard, except for the caret (^) used in Example 1 below.

(l-r: pivot; lift; drop; shimmy)
Figure A

Examples of Simple Steps and Moves, Using Notation

1) RS, L hip ^ ; LS, R ^ ; RS, L ^ .

2) fl-o-o-o ; rep. 2x total in-pl.

3) RLR S-tog-S; rep. 4x total in CW LOD (alternate starting foot).

Can you read the notes above and translate them into movements?
How about these Arm Position notes:

4) Arms out sides, PD.

5) L U, R D, PI.

6) P tog. o/h.

Moving In Time

Remember to relate your descriptions to the time frame they cover. For instance, the movement notation below covers an 8-count segment (which could be 2 beledi rhythms; 1 masmoudi; 1 chiftitelli; or 4 ayub, etc.). It's quite important to note the timing of your steps so if you don't understand what that is, ask someone who does; and sign up for some rhythm, drumming, or finger cymbal classes.

8 cts: RS, L hip ^ ; LS, R ^ (cts. 1-4); RS, L^ 3x <pivoting> CW to face B (cts. 5-8).

Your Turn - Write Down Few Dance Notes

Now you know how I write down my dance notes quickly when I'm choreographing a dance or combination. Try it yourself! Translating your movements into script will help you understand the dance in new and different ways, and a little focused attention now will pay off big later as you see your dance skills grow.

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