Explore the LODC
Language of Dance and
Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest
The Language of Dance® Center (LODC) is an educational service organization dedicated to the advancement and promotion of movement literacy. Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest, Dr. Tina Curran, and Heidi Wiess founded the LODC, Inc. in July 1997. It received its 501(c)3 non-profit status in March 1999.
Developed by Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest, the Language of Dance® Approach links movement exploration with Motif symbols to build an explicit foundation of movement knowledge.
The Language of Dance Approach to Dance Pedagogy introduces literacy as an integral part of dance teaching and learning.
- Using the LOD Movement Alphabet and corresponding Motif symbols links the physical experience of moving with cognitive and affective understanding.
- The LOD Literacy Processes of Sensing, Observing, Reflecting, Identifying, Interpreting, Notating, and Creating embedded in this pedagogy make possible the entire practice of exploring cognitive, social-emotional, and physical experiences of dancing in a concept-based teaching approach.
- The Literacy Processes support learning and applying the Language of Dance Approach to dance technique; composition; history, culture, and context; and analysis.
- This process of weaving movement exploration, meaning making, concept investigation, and notation with learners leads to engagement with language learning that is geared to serve every dancers' needs.
- Educate teachers, professionals, students, and the general public in the LOD Approach
- Support practices and research that promote the spread of comprehensive dance literacy
- Communicate and exchange ideas about LOD
- Develop materials to support the implementation of LOD
- Certify students, educators, and professionals in the LOD Approach
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Movement Alphabet ©1980
Developed and created by Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest, the Movement Alphabet ©1980 are the prime actions ('verbs') and concepts of which movement is comprised. Each Movement Alphabet symbol is a Motif, a representation of an entire constellation of ideas in a single concept for the mover to interpret in a myriad of ways.
Download full Movement Alphabet with accurate symbol proportions
Download a PDF showing Motif notated material.
Any Action
Stillness
Motion
Destination
Any Flexion
Any Rotation
Any Extension
Any Traveling
Any Direction
Balance
Falling
A Spring
Support
Motion Toward
Motion Away
Relating
Still Shape
People
Dr. Tina Curran
Kerry DiLeonardo
Susan Gingrasso
Dr. Teresa L. Heiland
Jimmyle Listenbee
Beth Megill
Michael Richter
Heidi Wiess
- Jack Anderson
- Bruce Marks
- Jill Beck
- Kevin McKenzie
- Shelley C. Berg
- Madeleine M. Nichols
- George Dorris
- Tamara Nijinsky
- Sali Ann Kriegsman
- Maria Pascher Tallchief
- Joan Kunsch
- Paul Taylor
- Yasuko Takunaga
LOD Benefits
Language of Dance helps to:
- Inspire and organize ideas for dance-making and composition
- Prepare improvisation and technique classes
- Teach technique and coach performers
- Notate choreography
- Research dance and conduct thorough movement analysis
- Connect with choreographers across the country and world
- Organize community dances and games to connect participants
- Develop creative, critical thinking, and problem solving skills
Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest and
LODC Origins
The Language of Dance® Approach grew out of Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest’s work with children at the New York City 92nd Street Y.M.H.A. in the 1950’s and later with adults in London’s Teacher Training College of the Royal Academy of Dance in the 1970’s.
Guest, the primary developer of Rudolf Laban’s (1879-1958) system of Kinetography, which she coined “Labanotation”, began to use the notation symbols in a freer, more exploratory way while teaching children at the 92nd Street Y. She discovered that the physical coordination and focus required by structured notation limited the children’s freedom to move and be creative. This experience inspired her to research and identify the prime actions universal to all movement forms.
After consulting many lists and sources including the “Seven Movements in Dance” as taught in the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Method, Laban’s list of basic actions, and the writings of Margaret H’Doubler, she codified her definition of the ABC’s of movement, the Movement Alphabet ©1980.
In England, the need for a freer use of the Labanotation symbols arose when Valerie Preston taught Laban’s Educational Dance to physical education teachers, one of whom suggested the name, Motif Writing. This led to Preston’s development of the usage and to the subsequent publication in 1967 of her books on the subject entitled Readers in Kinetography Laban, Series B, Motif Writing for Dance.
While teaching a course at the Teacher Training College of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1971, Guest returned to her exploratory and creative use of the motif symbols. She recognized the need for complex movements to be deconstructed to their most basic elements with the ability to be built back up again. During this time, she codified the Language of Dance® work and produced the textbook entitled Your Move - A New Approach to the Study of Movement and Dance published in 1983. The second edition (2007), co-authored by Dr. Tina Curran, co-Founder of the Language of Dance Center (USA), is Your Move: The Language of Dance® Approach to the Study of Movement and Dance, available from Taylor & Francis.
The establishment of the Language of Dance Centre in London (1967) and the Language of Dance® Center (USA) in Connecticut (1997) with Dr. Tina Curran and Heidi Wiess enabled Guest and others to raise the profile of this innovative and pioneering approach to teaching dance.
In 2022, Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest was appointed an Official Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her services to dance.
Special thanks to 92Y Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) for allowing us to use their photos that appear on our site.
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