Importance of Documenting the Sri Lankan Dance Motion and Notation

Abstract

Record in written of dancing technique on the body’s position and placement can be defined as Documenting of Dance Motion. In the world of dance, a standard and specific system is used to report the human motion in an analytic manner which is also defined as dance notations. Non Systematic signs and symbols are being used to measure dance movements in the Sri Lankan traditional Dancing and evidently has a continuous history. However, there’s neither a standard Hieroglyphics nor a socially accepted method to record such Dancing movements. Whereas fork beliefs and related manuscripts provide some hints on documenting such motions and notations such characteristics are instructed through the current system of traditional dance and drumming percussions' Since the migration of traditional ‘Gurukula’ system of dancing to modern academic institutional education system the understanding of dance notation and motion has become an essential segment' The Dance Notation can also be identified as a Conservation method of Traditional Motion Forms and also a transitional way to modern concept of dance such as digitalization of dance method. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the importance of Documenting of Sri Lankan Dance Motion and how to process a standard Dance Notation System. A Literature survey on such symbols notation and motion can be available sources such as manuscripts, Ola leaves, and discussions with traditional performers will be carried out to identity the authentic elements and examine its validity for the modern day academy dance and restoration purposes