Benesh in-front position sign

A vertical dash for a limb in front.

Also known as: Forward position sign, Vertical dash sign

CulturalMusicalQuiet profile

Meanings

The Benesh sign showing a hand or foot held in front of the plane of the body.

Culturally establishedVerified fact
Shows a hand or foot held in front of the plane of the body.
Contexts: Music
Culturally establishedVerified fact
Turns the level sign through a right angle, so the three depth signs differ only in the orientation of one stroke.
Contexts: Music

A short vertical dash placed on the stave at the height of the limb it describes.

A fuller structured visual breakdown is not yet documented for this symbol.

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Benesh Movement Notation
Royal Academy of Dance, Benesh Institute · retrieved 2026-08-23
The institute that maintains Benesh notation. Cited for its symbols and its stave convention; the system is proprietary in its training materials and only its published description is relied on here.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25