Dance Notation Notation History

In August, after a year of applying, praying, waiting, deciding and planning, I took a flight from Heathrow to a new life in Columbus, Ohio.

The ragging of my New Yorker friends notwithstanding, "why-o-why-o-why-o, why must you move to Ohio?", I have so far found Columbus to be a city with a rapidly developing dance and arts scene, spurred in no small part by the presence of the Ohio State University's dance programme.

I am studying here for a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Dance, Notation and Technology. My aim is to acquire the skills I need to publish my dance research in CD-ROM format rather than in print. It is my view that confining explanations and descriptions to text alone is absurd when looking at an art form that is so strongly anchored to space and time. A visual image or video clip can remove the need for lengthy passages of dry description and emphasise a point with striking ease. The reader has the option of navigating their own way around the information presented rather than having to follow the often linear structure of a book. At least that's the idea - it will be quite a while before I have the knowledge I need to put that into practice.

During the first week and a half of term most of my energy and attention has been channeled towards daily technique class. After nearly four years out of training my body has had quite a lot of adjusting to do. That might account for the sprained ankle I have already sustained. No dancing for at least a week. It doesn't sound like long - I realise that - but it is horribly frustrating nonetheless.

It is a privilege beyond measure to be able to study full-time again, to be funded to pursue my interests. At the same time I am excited to learn about the dance scene over here. The US and UK intersect at certain points in ballet and modern dance but already I have encountered discussion of choreographers I have never heard of at home and am realising how little of our own dance scene is recognized internationally.

I have been fortunate enough to be granted a Fulbright Award in order to undertake my work here. There is a strong emphasis at the Fulbright Commission on the cultural exchange element and as such it is my duty to experience and absorb American life as well as representing Britain as a country comprising more than the Spice Girls, Merchant-Ivory films and football hooligans.

Wish me luck.