[Sw-l] Sutton DanceWriting: Na ṭarāja

Sun Aug 8 15:58:41 UTC 2021

Hi Suzanne,

There is no explanation given on page 53 of Valerie (1979) on "the parts of
the body: the face" as to why the face must be written separately from the
torso. So I assume the inventor, Valerie, chose this way of writing to
prevent the face from obscuring other parts of the body, particularly the
head and neck position.

Reference
Sutton, V. (1979). *Dance writing for modern and jazz dance*. Sutton
Movement Writing Press.

[image: sign (27).png]
Sutthikhun (Ae)

On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 at 01:32, Suzanne Pach <suzannepach at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Sutthikhun,
>
> Wow, really beautiful and interesting to read your explanation.
>
> I wondered why the head is drawn separately from the body. Or is that how
> you’re supposed to do it with DanceWriting? (Reading more about
> DanceWriting is still on my todo-list 😅).
>
> Is Shiva always shown in this exact way or also for example with the arms
> in different positions or holding different symbols?
>
> Have a nice day :)
> Suzanne
>
> Op do 5 aug. 2021 om 22:32 schreef Sutthikhun Phaengphongsai <
> suttikunep at gmail.com>
>
>> Hello SW List members,
>>
>> I assume some of you saw my latest DanceWriting work that I uploaded on
>> the Sutton SignWriting Facebook group. On the recommendation of Valerie,
>> the inventor of both SW and DW, I will also submit this work to both the FB
>> group and the SW List. ;)
>>
>> *Introduction*
>> The dancer, *Shiva*: the Lord of Dancers in Hinduism, has four arms and
>> three eyes, as well as symbolisms held on his hands and stepped with his
>> foot. As a result, a typical human dancer with only two arms and two eyes
>> would be unable to perform this kind of dancing, *Ananda Tandava*,
>> precisely with the Lord Shiva. Writing *Shiva*'s dance motions in
>> numerous DW/SW symbols is therefore truly fascinating, since it can be
>> observed that only one step of dance has up to four different hand gestures
>> and one third-eye.
>>
>> *Description*
>> *Naṭarāja* / நடராஜர் / नटराज / Lord of Dancers
>> Transcribed on 05 Aug 2021 by Sutthikhun Phaengphongsai
>> Shiva performs the *Ananda Tandava* (dance of bliss), the dance in which
>> the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved.
>>
>> Hands
>>
>>    - The upper right hand holds a small drum. A specific hand gesture is
>>    used to hold the drum. It symbolizes rhythm and time.
>>    - The upper left hand contains fire, which signifies forces of
>>    creation and destruction. The opposing concepts show the counterpoise
>>    nature of life.
>>    - The lower left hand is bent downwards at the wrist with the palm
>>    facing inward, and also noted that this arm crosses his chest, concealing
>>    his heart from view. It represents “occlusion, concealment.”
>>
>> Legs
>>
>>    - His legs are bent, which suggests an energetic dance.
>>    - The demon dwarf upon whom *Nataraja* dances is the demon *Apasmara
>>    purusha*, and who symbolizes the demonic evil and ignorance over
>>    which the sacred dance of *Shiva* gives victory.
>>
>> Face
>>
>>    - The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead,
>>    which symbolize the triune in *Shaiv*ism. The eyes represent the sun,
>>    the moon and the third has been interpreted as the inner eye, or symbol of
>>    knowledge, urging the viewer to seek inner wisdom, self-realization.
>>    - The slightly smiling face of *Shiva* represents his calmness
>>    despite being immersed in the contrasting forces of the universe and his
>>    energetic dance.
>>
>> *References*
>>
>>    - *Nataraja*. English Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 6 August 2021,
>>    from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja.
>>    - Sutton, V. (1979). *Dance writing for modern and jazz dance*.
>>    Sutton Movement Writing Press.
>>    - Sutton, V., & Frost, A. (2011). *SignWriting hand symbols* (1st
>>    ed.). The SignWriting Press.
>>
>> Thanks for your interest,
>> [image: sign (27).png]
>> Sutthikhun (Ae)
>>
>> [image: Nataraja.png]
>> ________________________________________________
>>
>> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
>>
>> Valerie Sutton SignWriting List moderator sutton at signwriting.org
>>
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>>
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>>
> ________________________________________________
>
> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
>
> Valerie Sutton SignWriting List moderator sutton at signwriting.org
>
> Post Messages to the SignWriting List: sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu
>
> SignWriting List Archives & Home Page
> http://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
>
> Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages
> http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1
>

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