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Partner Acrobatic Notation
Partner Acrobatic Notation is a systemised shorthand for writing about acrobatic skills.
Being able to quickly notate skills is often very useful, whether planning training sessions, writing acts, or brainstorming skills.
This system is intentionally both structured and flexible. Feel free to expand upon it and make it your own. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at circus.coach.sol@gmail.com.
This notation system is draws heavily from the work of Wybren Wouda.
Overview
Position
The following is a list of shorthand notation for common positions.
In Hands
F2H - Foot to hand / standing in hands.
H2H - Hand to hand
Other
F2He - Foot to head / standing on head.
H2He - Hand to head / handstand on head
Cr - Cradle / baby
Wr - Wrap
Entrances
P - Pitching
CU - Cut up
T - Tip
Handstands
HS - Handstand
OA - One arm
Modifiers
C - Contra / reverse.
S - Standing basing
L - Lying basing
E - Extension / long arm
Movement
Rotation
Rotation is measured in quarters, written as */4. Some examples are:
4/4 - a back tuck.
3/4 - a front tuck to cradle (baby).
2/4 - a cascade.
1/4 - a back drop.
Twist
Twist is measured in degrees.
360* - full twist.
180* - half twist.
90* - quarter twist.
Direction
Direction of rotation is described as f (forward) or b (backward). Direction of twist is not usually noted.
4/4f is a front salto.
4/4b is a back salto.
2/4f is a cascade.
Direction of twist is not usually noted as it is mostly up to individual preference. When needed, it can be noted as l (left) or r (right).
Shape
Body shape while moving is notated as follows.
t - tuck
p - pike
s - straddle
l - layout / straight
Format
The full notation format is as follows:
(modifier-starting position) (rotation-direction) twist shape end position
Following this format, a standard back tuck recatch would be written as:
SCF2H 4/4b 0* t SCF2H
It is often convenient to drop the end position, as it can be logically determined from the start position and movement. Without the end position, a back tuck recatch is written as:
SCF2H 4/4b 0* t
It is also often convenient to drop unnecessary information to keep the notation simple. What to keep and what to discard is up to the writers discretion. For example if there is no twist, not writing that in can be simpler. Back saltos are almost always done in standing, and in a tuck position by default so they could be dropped as well. So a simpler notation for a back tuck recatch could be:
CF2H 4/4b
Then if you are notating a more unusual or specific movement you can reintroduce those elements as needed. For example:
LCF2H 4/4b p - L basing contra foot to hand, back pike recatch
CF2H 4/4b 360* - Back tuck full twist recatch
CF2H 6/4b CH2H - Contra foot to hand, 6 quarter salto, to contra hand to hand
Common Examples
F2H 2/4f - Cascade
H2H 2/4b - Courbette
H2H 2/4f - Handspring
CF2H 4/4b - Back tuck recatch
F2H 3/4f Cr - Front tuck to cradle
F2H 5/4f Wr - Front tuck to wrap catch
P CF2H - Pitch to contra foot to hand
P 180* - Pitch half to foot to hand
P 4/4b CF2H - Pitch back tuck to contra foot to hand
P 2/4f - Pitch cascade to contra hand to hand
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