Dan
段 だん
In a noh play, dan (段) is a subsection of a larger unit. In context of a full noh play, the dan are the scenes that make up a ba (act) . As with ba, utaibon (noh chant books) do not mark the dan subdivision. In a model two-ba structure, it is common to divide each ba into five dan. Dan are identified according to the function or action of the shite and/or of the waki.
With the meaning of "section", dan appear in other contexts in the noh. Long instrumental dances are divided into sections, which are are numbered “first dan” (shodan), “second dan” (nidan), on to “fifth dan” (godan) or more. In addition, Famous danced sections of plays that are performed independently in recitals as solo dances called shimai, but are not the standard kuse or kiri, often are labeled as “dan”, for example "Kane-no-dan" (Bell scene) from Miidera or "Tama-no-dan" (The Jewel Scene) from Ama. [DP]