The Dance Notation Bureau (DNB) is a non-profit organization founded to preserve
choreographic works through notating
dance scores in
Labanotation and collaborating with dance companies to stage reconstructions of those works.
Based in
New York City, DNB was founded by
Helen Priest Rogers,
Eve Gentry,
Janey Price, and
Ann Hutchinson in 1940. It has significant holdings of videotapes, photographs, programs, and production information. Its mission is to advance the art of dance through the use of a system of notation called Labanotation. This allows the dances to continue to be performed long after the lifetime of the artist.
In August 2007 it recommenced active work on the notation of dance works following a hiatus since October 2005.
Paul Ben-Itzak, The Buzz, 10-31: Nightmare on W. 30th Street: Dance Notation Bureau lays off staff, ''The Dance Insider'', 2005
/ref> The DNB is both privately and publicly funded, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts and has a $500,000 endowment.
The use of notation can support the performance of dances when interpreted with DNB assisting about 150 performances each year, including 20 under license from the choreographer or their heirs.
The DNB's Extension for Education and Research is at the Ohio State University.
Online Resources
The DNB released an online catalog of its Notated Theatrical Dances Collection, including works by George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
*
* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
, Paul Taylor, Antony Tudor, Bill T. Jones
William Tass Jones, known as Bill T. Jones, (born February 15, 1952) is an American choreographer, director, author and dancer. He is the co-founder of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Jones is Artistic Director of New York Live Ar ...
, Doris Humphrey, William Forsythe, José Limón and Laura Dean. In addition, the DNB is digitizing it
Moving Images Collection
as the supplement to the Notated Theatrical Dances Catalog. These clips are available at YouTube site.
References
Further reading
* Lu, Mei-Chen. "Resources and Riches: The Dance Notation Bureau." Dance Chronicle - Studies in Dance and the Related Arts 32.2 (2009): 291-301.
* Lu, Mei-Chen. "The Dance Notation Bureau Costume Design Collection" Performing Arts Resources 27 (2010): 111-116.
External links
Dance Notation BureauDance Notation Bureau Theory Bulletin BoardDance Notation Bureau Notated Theatrical Dances CatalogGuide to the Dance Notation Bureau Collection, 1901-2016
The Dance Notation Bureau's Extension for Education and Research is located at The Ohio State University Thompson Library Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute Stacks.
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Dance organizations
Dance notation organizations
Libraries in New York City
1940 establishments in New York City
Libraries established in 1940