DANCE NOTATION BUREAU INC

Programs

1. Library/archival services: the heart of the dnb's operation is its collection of 873 labanotation scores of dances that have been choreographed by 302 artists. This core collection is supplemented by related items that support the staging of the dances, including photos, videos, music scores and recordings, programs, costume sketches, and lighting and scenery designs - a collection that makes the dnb a unique archive in the world of dance. The dnb's archive is in a storage facility in long island city, queens, ny. Patrons wishing to examine scores and related material may continue to do so by contacting the dnb librarian and requesting the material be sent securely as pdfs via dropbox or google drive, or by regular mail to their home or institutional address. Selected scores are available for use in staging dances for public performance through rental and contractual agreements with the dnb. Score rentals are a primary source of revenue generated by the dnb's archive. Score rental fees are modest to make the scores more available to those with limited budgets. The dnb's online notated theatrical dances catalog, accessible to anyone with an internet connection, allows patrons to…

   $83,985 spent$268 earned by the program
   43% of program spending

2. Labanotation: the dnb preserves dance legacies and promotes dance literacy through the teaching and use of labanotation to record and stage choreographed theatrical dances. Our principal mission is to ensure that theatrical dances will continue to be performed in versions true to the choreographer's artistic vision. To fully capture the details of the artist's intentions, the dnb uses labanotation, a symbol system for recording human movement, to document dances on both paper and digital media. Introduced in 1928, labanotation is considered the most effective and comprehensive system to objectively analyze and describe human movement in space and time. The dnb typically receives funding from government agencies, private foundations, and individuals to record theatrical dances using the labanotation system. The dnb is also hired by choreographers to complete a labanotation score of a dance work, or of selected dance movements from a work. On occasion, notators will complete scores for the dnb on a volunteer no fee basis. The following labanotation projects were completed or in progress during the year ending june 30, 2025:"romeo and juliet" (kenneth macmillan, choreographer, 1965).…

   $65,287 spent$1,280 earned by the program
   33% of program spending

3. Education: the dnb offers correspondence courses in both elementary and intermediate labanotation, and online courses in movement observation and motif notation. Intensive one to two-week workshops in elementary labanotation, intermediate labanotation, and motif notation have been developed in chinese and have been conducted both in china and via zoom by a dnb staff member who is fluent in mandarin. We have also offered in the us and in china a one-week intensive teacher certification course (tcc) in elementary labanotation. As there is sufficient demand and enrollment, intensive workshops in elementary, intermediate, and advanced labanotation are now offered via zoom based instruction. During fy 2025 the dnb conducted two parts of a three-part advanced labanotation course that was attended by 8 students. All labanotation and motif workshops are comparable to a 3-credit college offering in the subject. Students from around the world, including the us, europe, china, latin america, and thailand have enrolled in the dnb's zoom-based, elementary, intermediate and advanced labanotation courses. The dnb conducted via zoom and in person the following course offerings during the fiscal…

   $34,188 spent$19,760 earned by the program
   17% of program spending

4. Stagings licensed by the dnb: the dnb licenses labanotation scores in its archive for performance (stagings) by professional dance companies and college / university dance departments. The licensing terms are governed by agreements in place between the choreographer / heir / rightsholder and the dnb. Licenses are typically one year in duration. The dnb collects an administrative fee for this service. It also collects and distributes license and royalty fees on behalf of the rightsholder. During fiscal year 2024, the following staging contracts were executed for performances:helen tamiris, "negro spirituals": repertory dance theatre (slc) has renewed their staging contract for spirituals for another year. Doris humphrey, "soaring": carol maxwell rezabek staged the work in cedar rapids, ia, and at several other venues in ia and other towns / cities in the midwest. Doris humphrey, "water study", theater mnster / tanz mnster (christian maier, company manager, tanz mnster) staged the dance for performancet performances in mnster, and elsewhere in germany, beginning on may 3, 2025. Doris humphrey, "water study", hamilton college in new york state staged the work in april 2025.doris…

   $13,866 spent$5,649 earned by the program
   7% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $197,326.