Dance notation is one of those tricky subjects which has been discussed for centuries: no matter how you write it down, you’re sure to miss something important. I’ve discussed some examples here in in the blog, particularly regarding Feuillet notation (which was a particular interest of Professor Ward’s). But sometimes folks just take things into their own hands.
Between my regular Warding activities, I’ve continued to catalog scores from our spectacular Historical sheet music collections, and today I was privileged to handle a small stack of scores from the Poisé system of dance instruction: I came for the gorgeous Art Deco “P” (see cover illustration) and stayed for the dance notation. Mexicano, of all of the scores, includes little stick figures which illustrate the dance steps described in text.
Surely this method of dance notation must have been used before, but I cannot remember such a charming example. The figures are even wearing little gloves, and booties to clarify the foot positions. Daisy Murrmann Stryker has written several books on the Poisé system of dance instruction, but this is the first music I’ve ever seen. Published in 1934, I only wish that someone from Disney had noticed these little guys, can’t you just see them animated in a fandango? Olé!
[Thanks to Andrea Cawelti, Ward Music Cataloger, for contributing this post.]
