A selection of Glifs drawn by Nancy, as stickers.

The Underscore is an improvisational dance and movement practice developed by Nancy Stark Smith, one of the key figures in Contact Improvisation. It is a framework for group improvisation that provides a shared language and structure while allowing for openness, creativity, and deep listening in movement.

The GLIFs (pronounced “glyphs”) are graphic symbols developed by Nancy Stark Smith as part of the Underscore to serve as a shorthand for the different phases, energies, and dynamics of the improvisational structure. They function as visual notations that help dancers understand and recall the flow of the score without relying on verbal explanations.