#  16. How to notate dance? 

 



##  Notations and scores for the Mariinskii Theatre production of "Giselle" 

 

 

 

   ![Notations and scores for the Mariinskii Theatre production of "Giselle"](/sites/g/files/omnuum10456/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-11/17_ms_thr_245_4_0016.jpg?itok=QoRhHt6z) 

 

**Nikolai Sergeev**  
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1903  
  
Dance notation for the Mariinskii Theatre production of Giselle, for Pas de deux from Act I for Agrippina Vaganova and Anatolii Obukhov. Also includes piano reduction score (manuscript) for the scene.

In 1892, Vladimir Ivanovich Stepanov published Алфавит движений человеческого тела, an analysis and notation system for human movement. Stepanov notation utilizes musical notes, which retain time values but are modified to indicate specific movements. The Mariinsky Ballet adapted the system for use in recording its repertory at the turn of the 20th century under the supervision of the régisseur of the company, Nikolai Sergeev. After the October Revolution, Sergeev left Russia and used the notations to restage productions in the West between 1921 and 1951.

Dance notation. Paper.  
Houghton Library. Harvard Theatre Collection, MS Thr 245 (4). HOLLIS Catalog: [000603190](https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990006031900203941/catalog)



 

 [17. Reading notes with date chevron\_right](https://prod-cadm004.drupalsites.harvard.edu/17-reading-notes-date) 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Musical Notes ](/itineraries/musical-notes)
- [ blank books ](/keywords/blank-books)
- [ dance notation ](/keywords/dance-notation)
- [ Nikolai Sergeev ](/keywords/nikolai-sergeev)
- [ Houghton Library ](/libraries/houghton-library)