Is there a notation for writing down dances?

Labanotation, is the formal name for it. [link]

Named after a guy called Laban, I assume; and it's basically a system designed to capture movement in 3 axes, plus time, based on the human form. I have no idea how to do it, but I did read an article once where a labanotationist analyzed a video of the Dog Whisperer and said he'd be a really good dancer.

Up later than usual tonight because I attended a city council meeting that went from 6:00 - 10:30 discussing building guidelines proposed for my neighborhood. It is a divisive issue here. I loved that a number of my neighbors that took the microphone indicated that they didn't want the fact that we disagreed to keep us from enjoying drinks together in our block parties. It reminded me of us. Alas, I will miss the final council vote on the 17th, but the members were all on my side so it should work out.

Is there a notation for writing down dances? Okay, maybe I should go further back. When Company B dances Swan Lake this year, how much like Swan Lake from Company A in 1956 is it? Tells the same story, probably. Has the same cast? Doing the same motions? In the same costumes? How much is traditional, reasonable variation?

If it's close, how is it recorded?

Yes. One of college roommates was a ballet dancer and choreographer and wrote her master's thesis on Nutcracker performances through time. I can zip her an email if you like.

OBAMANOM.

Doot dooo doot doo doot.

Okay, I can't stop laughing at that! (And singing it.)

It's too late and I'm too tired to talk politics, other than that.

ita, insent, a lot, mostly to the pics address.

Thank you, keen-eyed friend.

My god, I'm sleepy. I have to go fall over.

My sister has a boyfriend, but she was waffling about telling my parents. We were on skype and I had my sister turn the camera to face my mother and I asked "What do you think of her new young man??" which blustered them both terribly.

But I'd told her that I was going to break it to them if she didn't find a way. What's with waiting until it comes up? Some things come up by virtue of being true. Me or her getting regular nookie? Certainly on that list.

3 posts? Really? I go grocery shopping and end up in line behind Paris Hilton's real estate agent (he's having a reality show made about him, can you imagine!??!!) and one line over from...a dreamboat whose name I've neverknown and whose roles I can't place. Principal McHottie Type with the piercing eyes and the transporting voice and the polite ways in the driving lot.

ita, please tell me it was my secret boyfriend Romany Malco.

And this is a way cute online catalog. Definition of whimsy.

Skipping (and subscribing to the new thread - hello, new thread!) to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is a double Buffista birthday: both Dana's as well as how-can-she-be-such-a-big-girl-so-quickly Ellie's.

Happy birthday, Dana! Happy birthday Ellie! With special wishes for a great day for Stephanie and the rest of the family, too!

Cash, no, but I'll certainly put in a vote for it to be him next time. How dreamy!

I do love that catalog. Never shopped there, but it is cheering just to visit.

Happy birthdays to Dana and not-as-wee-as-she-used-to-be Ellie!

Happy Birthday Ellie!!

Happy Birthday Dana!!

....

Ok, so my inbox this morning contained this gem... I don't know how much will translate with the background I'm able to give, but my current instinctive response is "Death First!"

[Sox] can you come to a meeting with [big muckety mucks 1-3, as well as Very Energetic Individuals 2 & 3] next week? VEIs have come to me with a proposal for a digitalized, interactive version of some documents they plan to create this summer--and with a proposal that we transform the archives [100 years of crumbling paper, mind you] into such a 20th [!] century version. This proposal obviously has implications beyond the History of [Nonprofit] project which we would like to discuss with you.

to read this right, you need the following keys:

• "let's make it interactive!" has been the go-to phrase since "let's put it on the internet!" became too easy and common. No one has any idea what kind of interactive they want, nor how to make it happen, nor what it would cost. I'm guilty because I like to make stuff that makes these people go 'wow' and I get caught up in that, then wonder why I'm falling to pieces and being asked to do more...

• they don't know what it would cost because tacking it on to my workload is a huge game of pin the tail on the donkey at this point in the year.

• the individuals in question stand a chance of presenting a 8lb 3-ring binder with handwritten items at the end of the summer as their finished project that then needs to be 'digitalized' and 'interactivated'. Possibly some recordings too. But the last time we went through this, all I got was the binder and the phone numbers of some people to interview. Scripting, production, editing, design, coding, and launch? all me.

• standard expectation is that a 1-person production of this type of thing should not take very long at all. Computers being what they are.

also? No one seems to realize that my going part-time come July 1 means No New Projects. Everyone is reading that as "No New Projects for Anyone Else."

So tell me if I'm being lazy or if I can run, run like the wind.