Dancing

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Dance, Dance Hall, Ball, Ballroom, Discoteque, Dance Sport

Category

Sports, Activities, Public Facilities, Concessions, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to show the location of a place to dance

	Source	Description
	CNIS	Male and female figure, dancing
	ISO 7001	Male and female figure (in outline), dancing
	Pierce	Male and female figure (partially in outline), dancing
	Ecuador	Male and female figure (partially in outline), dancing
	BTA 1989	Male and female figure (partially in outline), dancing
	Aicher & Krampen	Male and female figure (partially in outline), dancing
	SVI	Male and female figure, dancing close together inside ellipsis on ground
	Picto'grafics	Male and female figure dancing
	Bolivia	Male and female figure dancing arm raised, one holding hat
	Peru MST	Male and female figure dancing, moon, two eighth notes
	HSSS	Male and female figure dancing, two eighth notes
	Peru 2016	Male and female figure dancing, two eighth notes
	Darrin Loeliger	Human figure dancing, eighth note on the right
	Dutchicon	Human figure dancing, eighth note on the left
	Dutchicon	Female figure dancing, eighth note on the right
	Wien BfS	Human figure dancing
	BS 8501:2002	Two eighth notes
	BTA 1989	Frontal view of top hat

Discussion

The range of pictograms shown in the table above gives a good hint of the image contents used to signify Dancing. No single visual stereotype can be identified, but images showing a male and a female figure dancing close together seem to be most common.

Data from tests is rather limited and also insufficient:

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the pictogram labeled as Aicher & Krampen in the table above. 56.2 % of the responses in a Comprehension Test were classified as correct, indicating that the message intended was not understood well enough according to ISO conventions. Answers listed in the paper are for example Dance, Dance Floor, Party, Ball, Night Club, Club, Discoteque, but information about how these were classified is missing. So depending on the type of scoring comprehensibility also might be higher than indicated.

Recommendations

We suggest to study more pictograms than the one tested in the paper available, including all basic concepts shown above and at least one improved redesign based on the variants shown at the top of the table. Such a project should also include a Comprehension Test to identify possible misinterpretations and to improve designs. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility. Only on such a basis a clear decision concerning a specific recommendation can be reached.

Tests of pictograms of referent Dancing

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.