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Being a Shibari model at heart who has also performed a bit in my life and loves to develop ideas and sequences, I've always felt that I need a system to convey my ideas reliably to my rigger without complicated descriptions or working it out live on the mat. My ballet background made up the frame from which the sequence notation system derives. But not only is it a tool for developing performances together and communicating ideas to each other, the applications are manyfold:

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Have you ever found yourself snapping dozens of photos during a workshop, only to struggle piecing together the precise suspension sequence later? Or felt disheartened by your inability to sketch meaningful stick figures that aid in comprehending a sequence? Perhaps you've been struck with ideas for experimenting in a rope jam during your morning shower, only to forget them entirely by the time you step onto the mat. Have you ever needed to come up with a performance but lacked sufficient time with your tying partner to go through every step, yet also lacked the language to convey it over the phone?

 

These amongst other reasons were my motivation to develop a graphical notation system for Shibari which is akin to choreography notation for dance or musical notation. It was invented to cater to the needs of exploration, documentation, and composition of Shibari sequences, offering both novices and seasoned practitioners an easy and straightforward yet precise method of notation. It serves as a means to document, recall, and construct sequence progressions with ease. Whether swiftly capturing ideas or memorising sequences from workshops or performances, this notation can be of great help. For advanced students, it facilitates the drafting and comprehension of new concepts before trying it out.

 

Establishing a universal language for Shibari notation fosters the exchange, preservation, and creation of learning materials, performances, exercises, and ideas for scenes. It could serve as a tool for archiving and preserving the creative work being done in this discipline.

If you are interested and want to know more about it, please get in touch.