LOOPs · Flow Arts Notation Guide

Mirrored

In a mirrored LOOP, the second repetition’s pictographs reflect the first, which changes their rotation direction.

In this example, each column is reflected across a horizontal plane.

Letter α, alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand static hold at east.Letter A, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter A, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand pro-spin shift south to west.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift west to south.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter A, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter A, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift south to east; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift east to south; Right hand anti-spin shift west to north.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift south to west; Right hand anti-spin shift north to east. In this example, each column is reflected across a horizontal plane.Letter β, beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand static hold at west.Letter G, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand pro-spin shift west to north.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand pro-spin shift north to east.Letter S, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter G, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter S, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand pro-spin shift west to south.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift south to west. In GΘSZ, every rotation in the first half is clockwise. The mirrored half repeats the same letters counter-clockwise. The left hand rests on Θ and Z, so you can watch the right hand's direction flip at the seam.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand static hold at north.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift west to north; Right hand static hold at north.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand pro-spin shift north to east.Letter C, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift south to east; Right hand static hold at north.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand static hold at north.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter C, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand anti-spin shift west to north.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift south to west; Right hand static hold at north. ZDCΣ travels through all three position families: gamma, beta, alpha. Its reflection walks the mirrored path with every rotation direction inverted.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand static hold at north.Letter W-, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand dash north to south.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to east; Right hand anti-spin shift south to west.Letter L, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift west to north.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand static hold at north.Letter W-, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand dash north to south.Letter B, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter L, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand static hold at north. W-BLΘ opens each half with a dash: the right hand cuts straight across while the left circles. The mirror survives a Type 3 letter unchanged.Letter α, alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand static hold at east.Letter J, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand pro-spin shift south to west.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift south to west; Right hand static hold at west.Letter Φ, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand static hold at west.Letter J, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand pro-spin shift west to south.Letter Θ, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand pro-spin shift south to east.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift south to east; Right hand static hold at east.Letter Φ, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand dash east to west; Right hand static hold at east. JΘZΦ opens with the hands circling in opposite directions at once. The mirrored half flips both: whatever ran clockwise comes back counter-clockwise, down to the closing Φ dash.

Rotated

In a rotated LOOP, each repetition ends in a rotated variation on its previous position.

In this example, there is a 90° rotation, finally returning to the start position (aka “home”).

Letter β, beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand static hold at south.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift south to west; Right hand pro-spin shift south to east.Letter Ψ, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand dash east to west.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Split-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand pro-spin shift west to south.Letter Ψ, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand dash south to north.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter Ψ, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand dash west to east.Letter D, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Split-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter Ψ, alpha (hands opposite) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand dash north to south. In this example, there is a 90° rotation, finally returning to the start position (aka “home”).Letter α, alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand static hold at west.Letter C, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift west to south.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand static hold at south.Letter V, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand anti-spin shift south to west; Right hand static hold at east.Letter C, alpha (hands opposite), Split-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift south to east; Right hand static hold at north.Letter V, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand anti-spin shift north to east; Right hand static hold at west. This 4-letter word repeats rotated 180°. The left hand circles counter-clockwise the whole way through (it never changes direction) while the right hand answers clockwise on every other step and rests between.Letter β, beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand static hold at west.Letter I, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift west to south; Right hand pro-spin shift west to south.Letter Ψ-, beta (hands together). Left hand dash south to north; Right hand dash south to north.Letter I, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter Ψ-, beta (hands together). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand dash west to east.Letter I, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter Ψ-, beta (hands together). Left hand dash north to south; Right hand dash north to south.Letter I, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift south to east; Right hand pro-spin shift south to east.Letter Ψ-, beta (hands together). Left hand dash east to west; Right hand dash east to west. IΨ- repeats rotated 90°: each two-step slice lands a quarter of the way around the grid, coming home after four repetitions.Letter β, beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand static hold at south.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash south to north; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter R, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Λ, gamma (right angle). Left hand dash east to west; Right hand static hold at north.Letter Y, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand static hold at north.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash north to south; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter R, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift south to west; Right hand anti-spin shift west to south.Letter Λ, gamma (right angle). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand static hold at south.Letter Y, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand static hold at south. Δ-RΛY repeats rotated 180°. Nothing flips. Every rotation in both halves runs clockwise, and the pattern simply picks itself up and lands halfway around the grid.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand static hold at west.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand anti-spin shift west to south.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand static hold at south.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift west to south; Right hand static hold at east.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift south to east; Right hand static hold at north.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter Σ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand static hold at west. XΣ repeats rotated 90°. The hands strictly alternate: right moves on every X while left holds, and left answers on every Σ. Each two-step slice sets the pattern down a quarter of the way around.

Swapped

In a swapped LOOP, each repetition swaps the roles of right/left.

Though the prop’s shapes look the same, this swap changes the body motion significantly.

Letter β, beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand static hold at south.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash south to north; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter T, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Q, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand anti-spin shift west to north; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter Z-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand dash north to south; Right hand anti-spin shift west to south.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand anti-spin shift south to east; Right hand dash south to north.Letter T, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter Q, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand anti-spin shift west to north.Letter Z-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift west to south; Right hand dash north to south. Though the prop’s shapes look the same, this swap changes the body motion significantly.Letter α, alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand static hold at west.Letter Δ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand static hold at west.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift north to west; Right hand static hold at west.Letter Ω, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift west to north.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift north to east.Letter Δ, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Z, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at west; Right hand anti-spin shift north to west.Letter Ω, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand anti-spin shift west to north; Right hand static hold at west.Letter X, gamma (right angle) to alpha (hands opposite). Left hand anti-spin shift north to east; Right hand static hold at west. In ΔZΩX, only one hand moves at a time. The second repetition trades parts: every motion the left hand played, the right hand takes, and the resting hand answers. Each motion is an anti-spin.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand static hold at east.Letter U, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand anti-spin shift south to east; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter Y, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand static hold at north.Letter F, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to west; Right hand anti-spin shift north to east.Letter Θ-, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter U, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift east to north; Right hand anti-spin shift south to east.Letter Y, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand static hold at north; Right hand pro-spin shift east to north.Letter F, beta (hands together) to alpha (hands opposite), Together-Opposite timing. Left hand anti-spin shift north to east; Right hand pro-spin shift north to west.Letter Θ-, alpha (hands opposite) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand dash west to east. UYFΘ- keeps both hands moving. At the halfway point they trade parts: the left hand picks up exactly what the right played on step one, and the right takes the left's.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at east; Right hand static hold at north.Letter R, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand pro-spin shift north to east.Letter Y-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand dash north to south; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter G, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift south to west; Right hand pro-spin shift south to west.Letter Σ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift west to north; Right hand dash west to east.Letter R, gamma (right angle), Quarter-Opposite timing. Left hand pro-spin shift north to east; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Y-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand dash north to south.Letter G, beta (hands together), Together-Same timing. Left hand pro-spin shift south to west; Right hand pro-spin shift south to west.Letter Σ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand pro-spin shift west to north. In RY-GΣ-, every rotation runs clockwise from start to finish. What trades is the dash: the left hand cuts across on the first pass, and on the repeat the right hand takes the cut.Letter γ, gamma (right angle). Left hand static hold at south; Right hand static hold at west.Letter Y-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand pro-spin shift south to east; Right hand dash west to east.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand anti-spin shift east to north; Right hand dash east to west.Letter Z-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand anti-spin shift north to east; Right hand dash west to east.Letter Σ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash east to west; Right hand pro-spin shift east to south.Letter Y-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand pro-spin shift south to east.Letter Δ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand dash east to west; Right hand anti-spin shift east to north.Letter Z-, gamma (right angle) to beta (hands together). Left hand dash west to east; Right hand anti-spin shift north to east.Letter Σ-, beta (hands together) to gamma (right angle). Left hand pro-spin shift east to south; Right hand dash east to west. Every step of Y-Δ-Z-Σ- splits the work: one hand circles while the other cuts straight across. At the halfway point the parts trade: step five hands the right dash to the left hand and gives the right hand the circle.