Ekaterine Geliashvili

20.02.2021

Summary

Efforts to record dance existed in ancient Egypt, India and Rome. The first example of recording dance was actually discovered in Europe in fifteenth century. “Golden Basdances” manuscript by Margarite the Austrian and the effort of dance recording in a form of a printed version associated with the name of M. Toulouse date also of the same time period. From the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century French dancing teachers and ballet masters Pierre Beauchamps , Raul Oje Feie and Pierre Rameau have come up with relatively basic systems of dance recording, that have been improved in the future by other specialists. 
In Georgia there are two systems of dance and movements recording. The first is “Conventional signs for recording Georgian dance” by Davit Javrishvili and “Conventional signs for recording dance” by Avtandil Tataradze. Both systems use the conventional signs created by the authors, which are written down on a music sheet as well as the body parts that are represented by the so called music “key”. Davit Javrishvili’s system is used to record only Georgian dance and its movements. It works in two different ways: In verses and written on five line system. His system also contains conventional signs used for recording directions, movements and conditions. As opposed to this system, the other author uses two five line music system. The lower part is used for recording movements and conditions of lower body parts, torso and head, whereas the upper is used for upper body parts only. 
Despite the authors’ efforts, these systems are too complex to study and at times confusing (meaning Davit Javrishvili’s terminology) and practically useless. It seams that coming up with a single, perfect system for recording dance, which would be satisfactory for professionals as well as easy to understand for everyone is quite a serious problem. Supposedly this is the reason why the recording systems have not been able to implicate themselves. Inspite of their existence, only an oral method and modern practical means for recording dance remain.