What is TKA?

The Kinetic Alphabet

The Kinetic Alphabet is a notation system for flow arts.

One pictograph keeps the hand positions, hand paths, and prop rotations for a movement step together. Put the pictographs in order and the choreography can be read again.

See how a pictograph reads
Start with position

The relationship between the hands

Alpha places the hands opposite each other. Beta puts both hands at the same point. Gamma makes a right angle.

Alpha position: hands at opposite points on the grid
Alpha Opposite points
Beta position: hands at the same point on the grid
Beta Same point
Gamma position: hands forming a right angle on the grid
Gamma Right angle
One step at a time

A pictograph keeps the movement together.

The grid and arrows carry the information that would otherwise be scattered across a video, a rehearsal note, and somebody's memory. Letters give common combinations a short name, but the picture remains readable on its own.

Position
Where each hand begins and ends on the grid.
Path
How each hand moves between those points.
Rotation
How the props turn during the step.
Choose what comes next

Go straight to the part you need.

The rest of the site separates learning, history, software, and quick answers.

Guide Learn the notation Start with the grid, hand positions, motions, letters, and words.History Trace the notation Read the sourced chronology of systems used to write flow arts down.Software Tour Flow Arts Composer See the tools for building, generating, animating, saving, and sharing choreography.Answers Read common questions Get direct answers about learning TKA, supported props, sharing, and cost.
About the project

Built by Austen Cloud

The Kinetic Alphabet and Flow Arts Composer are developed by Austen Cloud. The project received a 2024–25 Seed Fund grant from Fund the Flow Arts.

Created in 2022. Development continues.

Seed Fund announcement Read the software history Email support
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Flow Arts Composer is free to use. No download required.

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