Benesh International
Benesh International: Benesh Movement Notation
Benesh Movement Notation (BMN) is a system for documenting human movement. It is mainly used in the documentation and reconstruction of dance pieces. Benesh International serves as the headquarters for BMN.
Previously known as the Benesh Institute, it has been part of the RAD since 1997. It supports the dance community by protecting choreographic copyrights, educating choreologists, and nurturing the BMN community.
Our Mission…
To advance and safeguard the Benesh Movement Notation system.
As a longstanding organisation for choreologists, we offer education, establish standards, and foster a supportive global community of members.
Upcoming Events
PCBMN Application Deadline
1st November 2025
Benesh Student Forum
Date to be confirmed
The history of Benesh International
Devised by Rudolf and Joan Benesh, and first published in 1956, BMN is a written system for recording human movement. It is most widely used in the recording and restaging of dance works.
Over 1,750 BMN scores have been written. These are used to reconstruct and revive repertoire, to analyse movement, and as source material for educational research. The set exercises and dances in the RAD syllabi are published in BMN to enable teachers to study the work in a common language and in more detail than is possible from notes or video alone.
Benesh Resources
Find out more about our tools and resources for choreologists including:
- The Encyclopedia of Benesh Movement Notation (the EBMN)
- Benesh Score Notating Standards
- The Benesh Notation Editor
- The BMN Score Catalogue
Courses available
Find out more about our courses and qualifications in Benesh Movement Notation.
Professional Certificate in Benesh Movement Notation (PCBMN)
This part-time distance learning programme provides a thorough grounding in the principles and usage of BMN. It is for anyone interested in the observation, analysis and recording of human movement.
Professional Diploma in Benesh Movement Notation (PDBMN)
The highest taught award in BMN, this prepares students to become a Professional Benesh Choreologist. This course is preparation for becoming a Benesh Choreologist in a repertory dance company.
Score Reading for Dancers (SRfD)
This award is delivered and examined in weekly lessons over two years at vocational schools and colleges.
Benesh for Beginners
A flexible distance learning course open to anyone looking for an introduction to BMN. It is particularly suitable for teachers who want to be able to read the notation in the RAD’s syllabus books and you can start at any point in the year.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Our CPD department offers a variety of starter courses in BMN. This includes the ‘Benesh Movement Notation for Ballet’ distance learning course which comes with time-valued CPD.
Benesh Movement Notation (BMN) for Clinicians
BMN serves clinicians in several ways, as:
- a recording instrument for on-the-spot assessments and re-evaluations,
- a research tool, along with instrumentation techniques, to document clinical observations, and
- as an educational resource to allow the observation of movement for clinical analysis of functional and dysfunctional patterns.
Staff
Diana Curry FIChor
PDBMN and Benesh for Beginner Tutor as well as the PDBMN Programme Leader
Since graduating from the Benesh Institute in 1978, Diana has worked continuously in the field of dance notation and reconstruction.…
Iris Tang
Benesh for Beginners tutor
DPBMN Iris completed the Diploma for Professional Benesh Movement Notators with Distinction in 2016. Iris has worked as a choreologist…
James Groom
Benesh International Lead Officer
James began his dance training in Essex before moving to London in 2016 to attend the Royal Academy of Dance,…
Kendra Johnson
PCBMN and Benesh for Beginners Tutor as well as PCBMN Programme Leader
AIChor Kendra teaches Benesh Movement Notation on some of the Royal Academy of Dance’s Faculty of Education programmes. She has…
Kerry West
Benesh for Beginners Tutor
DPBMN Kerry is also an examiner for the Score Reading for Dancers (SRFD) course at English National Ballet and Elmhurst…
María Jiménez
Benesh for Beginners Tutor and administrator of the Benesh for Beginners programme
DPBMN María studied the Certificate in Benesh Movement Notation and the Diploma for Professional Benesh Movement Notators at the Benesh…
Marina Flores Herrero
Benesh for Beginners Tutor
CBMN Marina has obtained the Certificate in Benesh Movement Notation (CBMN), during which she had the opportunity to work towards…
Mark Kay AIChor
PCBMN Programme Tutor
Mark Kay took up the profession of Choreology after studying Benesh Movement Notation at The Australian Ballet School. In 1986…
Melanie Simpkin
Head of Benesh International
DPBMN Melanie began her ballet training in Cheshire before attending the Arts Educational School, Tring. From there, she studied Dance…
Tina Chen
Administrator for the Benesh for Beginners programme (Chinese)
Professor Ting Tina Chen is the Chief Representative of China for the Royal Academy of Dance and is a Member…
Yang Xie
Benesh for Beginners Tutor
She studied CBMN at the Benesh Institute and has rehearsal observation experience, working alongside choreologists such as Jane Bourn. She…
Get in touch
- Contact Benesh International
- Melanie Simpkin
- James Groom
For general enquiries, please contact our department at the email address below.
A Who’s Who of Benesh
Patrons:
Our patrons are people and institutions that support us financially.
Lady MacMillan – www.kennethmacmillan.com
Peter Darrell Trust – www.peterdarrell.org
Benesh Institute Endowment Fund
The Benesh Board of Studies (BBoS)
Victoria Watts (Chair)
Melanie Simpkin (Head of Benesh International)
Diana Curry FIChor
Kendra Johnson
The Benesh Technical Advisory Panel (BenTAP)
Kendra Johnson (Chair)
Amanda Eyles
Anders Ivarsson
Diana Curry FIChor
Eleonora Demichelis
Eliane Mirzabekiantz
Gregory Mislin
Liz Cunliffe
Rhonda Ryman
Robyn Hughes Ryman
Romain Panassié
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