The Labanotator

Long before there was a Theory Bulletin Board, LabanTalk, and the CMAlist, The Labanotator provided a forum for discussing notation issues.

Edited by Ann Hutchinson Guest, The Labanotator was first published by the Dance Notation Bureau from 1957 to 1965 and later by the Language of Dance Centre from 1978 to 1994. The periodical served as a forum for discussing the finer points of Labanotation not covered in textbooks, including ambiguous usages and how notation should be performed. It was not an official guide, but rather a space for presenting unresolved issues, sharing ideas, and encouraging open discussions, all aimed at fostering critical thought and advancing research in the field. The Labanotator featured contributions from Ann Hutchinson Guest and other experts, helping to solidify Labanotation as a vital tool for dance preservation, analysis, and education.

The Labanotator became a key resource for Labanotation practitioners interested in the written documentation of dance. Through its comprehensive coverage of Labanotation theory and practice, the journal played a significant role in the global recognition and adoption of the system. Although publication ceased in 1994, the legacy of The Labanotator endures through its archived issues, which remain a valuable resource for contemporary scholars, educators, and practitioners. The periodical’s historical significance continues to resonate as a foundational text in the field of dance documentation and preservation.

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The links below go to the facsimiles of all 76 issues of The Labanotator

Issue No. 76

July 1994

Topics:

Ballroom Dancing; Comments on The Labanotator No.75

Issue No. 75

April 1994

Topics:

Paths, Traveling; Meandering Symbol – A New Idea; Path Signs and Room Areas; 'A Step'; LOD - 'Path' versus Traveling'; Movement of Body-as-a-Whole or of a Part?; Can a Starting Position Indicate Movement

Issue No. 74

January 1994

Topics:

The Practice of Specific Timing; Forms of Relating – A Generic Sign; Motif: Centre of Weight; A Menu of Movements

Issue No. 73

October 1993

Topics:

Hand/Finger Fan; Track Pins, Black Pins; Led by the Wrist; Distance of Leg Gesture from Floor; Motif Indications?; Fact or Feeling?; Limb Rotation – Back to Normal?; Revolving While Travelling; The Labanotator Index of Contents, ed. 1994

Issue No. 72

July 1993

Topics:

Timing of Claps; Leg Gestures: Distance from Floor; Parts of the Fingers (for Movement, for Touch); Led by the Wrist; Fact or Feeling?; Limb Rotation – Back to Normal; Spot Hold or Space Hold?; Back to Normal or Disappear?; Part Leading – Use of Toe Hooks

Issue No. 71

April 1993

Topics:

The Handling of Objects (Representation of the Objects; Placement on the Staff; Contact, Hold, Carry, Carrying Hold; Directions for Objects); Pins – When Black, When Tack, When Track?; Pins for All-Fours Situations

Issue No. 70

January 1993

Topics:

An Analysis of Elbow Rotation, by Janos Fugedi; Handling of Props

Issue No. 69

October 1992

Topics:

A History of the Development of the Laban System, Part Eight

Issue No. 68

July 1992

Topics:

A History of the Development of the Laban System, Part Seven

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