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	Dance Notation - A Teaching Tool Anna Karin STAHLE-VARNEY The aim of this paper is to discuss how dance notation can be used as a teaching tool. It is based on my project Dance Notation – A Teaching Tool where I looked at "how does a dance teacher use the dance notation as a teaching tool?" and which parts of dance teaching can be strengthened/clarified by using the notation. Up till now dance notation has mostly been used for documentation. It is only possible for a notation system to become a useful tool, if it is based on logical system of analysis of the movement possibilities of the human body. This system of analysis ought to make dance notation a very useful teaching tool. I based my work on a questionnaire that 33 dance teachers answered. The analysis of the answers show that notation is used in dance teaching at all levels and for all ages. Generally no previous knowledge of notation is needed, they learn as they go along. The most important advantage is that students become aware of their dance. “Analysis, reflection and independent learning” are emphasised by many informants. My analysis of the answers of the questionnaire also showed that dance notation is used both in a direct way and an indirect way. The ”direct use” is when notation is used in the dance class as one of the tools for teaching. Motif Writing is used a lot in creative dancing to teach movement concepts. It is also used in composition classes. The structured notation is used in dance classes to help students understand and analyse dance technique and also when learning repertoire. The “indirect use” is when the teacher uses the notation to prepare for the dance classes. Some teachers also commented that the notation influenced the way they explain dance verbally. The use of notation also gives teachers and students a language in common and it helps both teacher and student in observing dance. The results of the questionnaire made me aware of the importance of offering different ways of learning dance, and that notation is one of them. It also made me aware of the possibilities that notation can help people that aren’t kinetically talented can find a way to dance with the help of the signs.	< list
	Anna Karin STAHLE-VARNEY - graduated from The National College of Dance/ Danshögskolan in Stockholm. Later she studied Spanish Dance in Madrid, Spain and then started her studies in Labanotation. In Sweden she teaches Spanish Dance, Historical Dances and Labanotation at Danshögskolan. She has also published Nybörjarbok i Labanotation för folkdansare. > e-mail	^ top