The Art of Dancing in 1910 and Narratives of Time and Space

Published on Aug 28, 2007 (updated Dec 13, 2022), filed under design, art. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon.)

It’s interesting to explore different forms of data visualization. Here are some photos I took from a dance book from 1910, “Atlas zur Grammatik der Tanzkunst und Tanzschreibekunst oder Choreographie”—“Grammar of the Art of Dancing”—, by Friedrich Albert Zorn. Zorn was a successful German dancer, choreographer, and dance theorist who lived from 1816 to 1895.

Although the photographs are of rather poor quality, you should be able to make out interesting details (typography) and recognize what Edward Tufte taught as small multiples and “narratives of time and space.” The dance notation—which as far as I know is still in use?—invites to compare and assess changes. There probably are more things to note (and maybe to criticize) from an information design point of view, but take a look for yourself.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies (e.g., Google); I’m an active web and tool developer (code optimization, digital defense), a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and a book author (O’Reilly, Frontend Dogma).

I love trying things—in web development and engineering management, but also in politics and philosophy, where I hold to one idea in particular: that we can only be well if we take good care of everyone. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my perspectives and experiences. (Please share feedback: Interpret charitably, keep it friendly, but do be critical.)