Benesh Movement Notation was devised by Rudolf and Joan Benesh and first published in 1956. It is a concise, accurate and versatile written system for recording all forms of human movement.

BMN is most widely used in the recording and restaging of dance works, where it has proved invaluable, both as a day-to-day tool in the rehearsal studio, and as a means of preserving our dance heritage. But the Benesh system is, and can be, much more than a means of recording theatre dance. It has been used successfully by anthropologists, by physiotherapists to analyse and record patient movement, and even in an ergonomic study of seating in an airport.

Benesh Movement Notation is a universal language that provides:

a true and accurate, 3 dimensional representation of movement including precise indication of the whereabouts of people and their relationship to one another within the working space, the directions in which they face and their paths of travel, and the movement and positions of the limbs, head, hands, feet and body

a tool for the analysis of movement, rhythm and phrasing and the structure of dance works

the opportunity to accurately record choreography without having to rely on video the ability to teach students repertoire from world-class dance companies such the Royal

Ballet using more that 250 Benesh scores that are available for educational purposes access to the Royal Academy of Dance's Syllabi without the need for translation

Benesh Movement Notation (also known as "choreology" and "dance script") is a system of dance notation that can document any form of dance or human movement. Invented by Joan and Rudolf Benesh in the late 1940s, the system uses abstract symbols based on figurative representations of the human body.

Like Western music notation Benesh notation uses a five line stave that reads from left to right with bar lines to mark the passage of time. Because of this Benesh can be presented with a timeline or musical accompaniment. The five lines of the Benesh stave coincide with the head, shoulders, waist, knees and floor (from top to bottom) and additional signs are used to notate the dimension and quality of the movement.

Benesh Movement Notation is used in the contexts of physical therapy, choreography documenting, and teaching the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabi, and is one of the most widely used dance notation systems in western culture.

At the public launch of Benesh Movement Notation in 1955, Rudolf Benesh defined "Choreology", or "dance script" as the aesthetic and scientific study of all forms of human movement by movement notation.

In 1997 The Benesh Institute, international centre for Benesh Movement Notation was amalgamated with the Royal Academy of Dance.