Movement scores

What is a movement score?

Body movements can be written down on a score, rather like musical notes. The aim is to build a score that can be read by performers: the notation signs tell them what movements to make.

This is an excellent way of working on a choreography, for example, and keeping a precise record of what its author intended.

The Rimboxing Club scores are original because they're methodically taken from literary texts. In fact, they are scores of linguistic movement that can be interpreted by the body arts! Your favourite book or song can become movement scores!

Can I make my own scores?

Yes, this movement notation has been designed to be accessible to as many people as possible.

Whether you want to invent your own shadowboxing combos or write some great choreography, you can contact me for a chat and I'll help you build your first movement score!

If you're part of a school, association or company, we can also work together to prepare the score for a unique choreography based on a text of your choice! Write to me at contact@rimboxingclub.com.

How do I read a score?

A score is read from left to right, from the top to the bottom of the page. The notation system we use is very basic, to make it as easy as possible to learn. It consists of just 12 signs, indicating the type of movement to be made, and 4 numbers indicating the axis on which the movement is to be made: front/back, top/bottom, right/left, or without a specific axis.

Each line begins by indicating who is moving: the performer can be a dancer or a boxer, and scores can be built for a whole group of performers. The example below shows a score for a single performer. Vertical separating lines mark a bar, so you can decide on a tempo to apply to the score.

An example score

Arthur Rimbaud, poem ‘Roman

This score was performed as shadowboxing. Videos are available here!

The scores presented can be reinterpreted in boxing but also in dance or in other arts and sports.