diff --git a/src/timeline/Range.js b/src/timeline/Range.js
index d90dc840..d50e8d13 100644
--- a/src/timeline/Range.js
+++ b/src/timeline/Range.js
@@ -3,31 +3,31 @@
  * A Range controls a numeric range with a start and end value.
  * The Range adjusts the range based on mouse events or programmatic changes,
  * and triggers events when the range is changing or has been changed.
- * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter, range: Range}} timeline
+ * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter}} body
  * @param {Object} [options]    See description at Range.setOptions
  */
-function Range(timeline, options) {
+function Range(body, options) {
   this.start = null; // Number
   this.end = null;   // Number
 
-  this.timeline = timeline;
+  this.body = body;
   this.options = options || {};
 
   // drag listeners for dragging
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('dragstart', this._onDragStart.bind(this));
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('drag',      this._onDrag.bind(this));
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('dragend',   this._onDragEnd.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('dragstart', this._onDragStart.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('drag',      this._onDrag.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('dragend',   this._onDragEnd.bind(this));
 
   // ignore dragging when holding
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('hold', this._onHold.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('hold', this._onHold.bind(this));
 
   // mouse wheel for zooming
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('mousewheel',      this._onMouseWheel.bind(this));
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('DOMMouseScroll',  this._onMouseWheel.bind(this)); // For FF
+  this.body.emitter.on('mousewheel',      this._onMouseWheel.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('DOMMouseScroll',  this._onMouseWheel.bind(this)); // For FF
 
   // pinch to zoom
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('touch', this._onTouch.bind(this));
-  this.timeline.emitter.on('pinch', this._onPinch.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('touch', this._onTouch.bind(this));
+  this.body.emitter.on('pinch', this._onPinch.bind(this));
 
   this.setOptions(options);
 }
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ Range.prototype.setRange = function(start, end) {
       start: new Date(this.start),
       end: new Date(this.end)
     };
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('rangechange', params);
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('rangechanged', params);
+    this.body.emitter.emit('rangechange', params);
+    this.body.emitter.emit('rangechanged', params);
   }
 };
 
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ Range.prototype._onDragStart = function(event) {
   touchParams.start = this.start;
   touchParams.end = this.end;
 
-  if (this.timeline.dom.root) {
-    this.timeline.dom.root.style.cursor = 'move';
+  if (this.body.dom.root) {
+    this.body.dom.root.style.cursor = 'move';
   }
 };
 
@@ -275,12 +275,12 @@ Range.prototype._onDrag = function (event) {
 
   var delta = (direction == 'horizontal') ? event.gesture.deltaX : event.gesture.deltaY,
       interval = (touchParams.end - touchParams.start),
-      width = (direction == 'horizontal') ? this.timeline.props.center.width : this.timeline.props.center.height,
+      width = (direction == 'horizontal') ? this.body.props.center.width : this.body.props.center.height,
       diffRange = -delta / width * interval;
 
   this._applyRange(touchParams.start + diffRange, touchParams.end + diffRange);
 
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('rangechange', {
+  this.body.emitter.emit('rangechange', {
     start: new Date(this.start),
     end:   new Date(this.end)
   });
@@ -298,12 +298,12 @@ Range.prototype._onDragEnd = function (event) {
 
   // TODO: reckon with option movable
 
-  if (this.timeline.dom.root) {
-    this.timeline.dom.root.style.cursor = 'auto';
+  if (this.body.dom.root) {
+    this.body.dom.root.style.cursor = 'auto';
   }
 
   // fire a rangechanged event
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('rangechanged', {
+  this.body.emitter.emit('rangechanged', {
     start: new Date(this.start),
     end:   new Date(this.end)
   });
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ Range.prototype._onMouseWheel = function(event) {
 
     // calculate center, the date to zoom around
     var gesture = util.fakeGesture(this, event),
-        pointer = getPointer(gesture.center, this.timeline.dom.center),
+        pointer = getPointer(gesture.center, this.body.dom.center),
         pointerDate = this._pointerToDate(pointer);
 
     this.zoom(scale, pointerDate);
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ Range.prototype._onPinch = function (event) {
 
   if (event.gesture.touches.length > 1) {
     if (!touchParams.center) {
-      touchParams.center = getPointer(event.gesture.center, this.timeline.dom.center);
+      touchParams.center = getPointer(event.gesture.center, this.body.dom.center);
     }
 
     var scale = 1 / event.gesture.scale,
@@ -423,12 +423,12 @@ Range.prototype._pointerToDate = function (pointer) {
   validateDirection(direction);
 
   if (direction == 'horizontal') {
-    var width = this.timeline.props.center.width;
+    var width = this.body.props.center.width;
     conversion = this.conversion(width);
     return pointer.x / conversion.scale + conversion.offset;
   }
   else {
-    var height = this.timeline.props.center.height;
+    var height = this.body.props.center.height;
     conversion = this.conversion(height);
     return pointer.y / conversion.scale + conversion.offset;
   }
diff --git a/src/timeline/Timeline.js b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
index 91fffc49..5ffea046 100644
--- a/src/timeline/Timeline.js
+++ b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
@@ -89,31 +89,38 @@ function Timeline (container, items, options) {
   // all components listed here will be repainted automatically
   this.components = [];
 
+  this.body = {
+    dom: this.dom,
+    props: this.props,
+    emitter: this
+  };
+
   // range
-  this.range = new Range(this, this.options);
+  this.range = new Range(this.body, this.options);
   this.range.setRange(
       now.clone().add('days', -3).valueOf(),
       now.clone().add('days', 4).valueOf()
   );
+  this.body.range = this.range;
 
   // time axis
-  this.timeAxis = new TimeAxis(this, this.options);
+  this.timeAxis = new TimeAxis(this.body, this.options);
   this.components.push(this.timeAxis);
   this.options.snap = this.timeAxis.snap.bind(this.timeAxis); // TODO: not nice adding snap to options
 
   // current time bar
-  this.currentTime = new CurrentTime(this, this.options);
+  this.currentTime = new CurrentTime(this.body, this.options);
   this.components.push(this.currentTime);
 
   // custom time bar
   // Note: time bar will be attached in this.setOptions when selected
-  this.customTime = new CustomTime(this, this.options);
+  this.customTime = new CustomTime(this.body, this.options);
   this.components.push(this.customTime);
 
   // item set
-  this.itemSet = new ItemSet(this, this.options);
+  this.itemSet = new ItemSet(this.body, this.options);
   this.components.push(this.itemSet);
-  this.emitter.on('change', this.redraw.bind(this));
+  this.on('change', this.redraw.bind(this));
 
   this.itemsData = null;      // DataSet
   this.groupsData = null;     // DataSet
@@ -178,10 +185,7 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
   this.dom.leftContainer.appendChild(this.dom.left);
   this.dom.rightContainer.appendChild(this.dom.right);
 
-  // create a central event bus
-  this.emitter = this;
-
-  this.emitter.on('rangechange', this.redraw.bind(this));
+  this.on('rangechange', this.redraw.bind(this));
 
   // create event listeners for all interesting events, these events will be
   // emitted via emitter
@@ -200,7 +204,7 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
   events.forEach(function (event) {
     var listener = function () {
       var args = [event].concat(Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 0));
-      me.emitter.emit.apply(me.emitter, args);
+      me.emit.apply(me, args);
     };
     me.hammer.on(event, listener);
     me.listeners[event] = listener;
@@ -730,7 +734,7 @@ Timeline.prototype._startAutoResize = function () {
         me.props.lastWidth = me.dom.root.clientWidth;
         me.props.lastHeight = me.dom.root.clientHeight;
 
-        me.emitter.emit('change');
+        me.emit('change');
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/Component.js b/src/timeline/component/Component.js
index 341070dd..5dfe5342 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/Component.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/Component.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 /**
  * Prototype for visual components
+ * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter, range: Range}} body
+ * @param {Object} [options]
  */
-function Component () {
+function Component (body, options) {
   this.options = null;
   this.props = null;
 }
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js b/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
index f622b0d4..ca0008f4 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 /**
  * A current time bar
- * @param {{range: Range, dom: Object}} timeline
+ * @param {{range: Range, dom: Object}} body
  * @param {Object} [options]        Available parameters:
  *                                  {Boolean} [showCurrentTime]
  * @constructor CurrentTime
  * @extends Component
  */
 
-function CurrentTime (timeline, options) {
-  this.timeline = timeline;
+function CurrentTime (body, options) {
+  this.body = body;
 
   this.options = options || {};
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ CurrentTime.prototype._create = function() {
  */
 CurrentTime.prototype.redraw = function() {
   if (this.options.showCurrentTime) {
-    var parent = this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical;
+    var parent = this.body.dom.backgroundVertical;
     if (this.bar.parentNode != parent) {
       // attach to the dom
       if (this.bar.parentNode) {
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ CurrentTime.prototype.start = function() {
     me.stop();
 
     // determine interval to refresh
-    var scale = me.timeline.range.conversion(me.timeline.props.center.width).scale;
+    var scale = me.body.range.conversion(me.body.props.center.width).scale;
     var interval = 1 / scale / 10;
     if (interval < 30)   interval = 30;
     if (interval > 1000) interval = 1000;
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js b/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
index 31ef8dd3..4cd9e96d 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 /**
  * A custom time bar
- * @param {{range: Range, dom: Object}} timeline
+ * @param {{range: Range, dom: Object}} body
  * @param {Object} [options]        Available parameters:
  *                                  {Boolean} [showCustomTime]
  * @constructor CustomTime
  * @extends Component
  */
 
-function CustomTime (timeline, options) {
-  this.timeline = timeline;
+function CustomTime (body, options) {
+  this.body = body;
   this.options = options || {};
 
   this.customTime = new Date();
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ CustomTime.prototype._create = function() {
  */
 CustomTime.prototype.redraw = function () {
   if (this.options.showCustomTime) {
-    var parent = this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical;
+    var parent = this.body.dom.backgroundVertical;
     if (this.bar.parentNode != parent) {
       // attach to the dom
       if (this.bar.parentNode) {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ CustomTime.prototype._onDrag = function (event) {
   this.setCustomTime(time);
 
   // fire a timechange event
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('timechange', {
+  this.body.emitter.emit('timechange', {
     time: new Date(this.customTime.valueOf())
   });
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ CustomTime.prototype._onDragEnd = function (event) {
   if (!this.eventParams.dragging) return;
 
   // fire a timechanged event
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('timechanged', {
+  this.body.emitter.emit('timechanged', {
     time: new Date(this.customTime.valueOf())
   });
 
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/Group.js b/src/timeline/component/Group.js
index 78da0c39..343ba185 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/Group.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/Group.js
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ Group.prototype.add = function(item) {
   item.setParent(this);
 
   if (item instanceof ItemRange && this.visibleItems.indexOf(item) == -1) {
-    var range = this.itemSet.timeline.range; // TODO: not nice accessing the range like this
+    var range = this.itemSet.body.range; // TODO: not nice accessing the range like this
     this._checkIfVisible(item, this.visibleItems, range);
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
index 0948a67c..4b926c62 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ var UNGROUPED = '__ungrouped__'; // reserved group id for ungrouped items
  * An ItemSet holds a set of items and ranges which can be displayed in a
  * range. The width is determined by the parent of the ItemSet, and the height
  * is determined by the size of the items.
- * @param {{dom: Object}} timeline
+ * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter, range: Range}} body
  * @param {Object} [options]      See ItemSet.setOptions for the available options.
  * @constructor ItemSet
  * @extends Component
  */
-function ItemSet(timeline, options) {
-  this.timeline = timeline;
+function ItemSet(body, options) {
+  this.body = body;
 
   // one options object is shared by this itemset and all its items
   this.options = options || {};
@@ -194,17 +194,17 @@ ItemSet.prototype.hide = function() {
 ItemSet.prototype.show = function() {
   // show frame containing the items
   if (!this.dom.frame.parentNode) {
-    this.timeline.dom.center.appendChild(this.dom.frame);
+    this.body.dom.center.appendChild(this.dom.frame);
   }
 
   // show axis with dots
   if (!this.dom.axis.parentNode) {
-    this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical.appendChild(this.dom.axis);
+    this.body.dom.backgroundVertical.appendChild(this.dom.axis);
   }
 
   // show labelset containing labels
   if (!this.dom.labelSet.parentNode) {
-    this.timeline.dom.left.appendChild(this.dom.labelSet);
+    this.body.dom.left.appendChild(this.dom.labelSet);
   }
 };
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._deselect = function(id) {
  */
 ItemSet.prototype.redraw = function() {
   var margin = this.options.margin,
-      range = this.timeline.range,
+      range = this.body.range,
       asSize = util.option.asSize,
       options = this.options,
       orientation = options.orientation,
@@ -337,9 +337,9 @@ ItemSet.prototype.redraw = function() {
 
   // reposition axis
   this.dom.axis.style.top = asSize((orientation == 'top') ?
-      (this.timeline.props.top.height + this.timeline.props.border.top) :
-      (this.timeline.props.top.height + this.timeline.props.centerContainer.height));
-  this.dom.axis.style.left = this.timeline.props.border.left + 'px';
+      (this.body.props.top.height + this.body.props.border.top) :
+      (this.body.props.top.height + this.body.props.centerContainer.height));
+  this.dom.axis.style.left = this.body.props.border.left + 'px';
 
   // check if this component is resized
   resized = this._isResized() || resized;
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype.setGroups = function(groups) {
   // update the order of all items in each group
   this._order();
 
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+  this.body.emitter.emit('change');
 };
 
 /**
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onUpdate = function(ids) {
 
   this._order();
   this.stackDirty = true; // force re-stacking of all items next redraw
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+  this.body.emitter.emit('change');
 };
 
 /**
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onRemove = function(ids) {
     // update order
     this._order();
     this.stackDirty = true; // force re-stacking of all items next redraw
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+    this.body.emitter.emit('change');
   }
 };
 
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onAddGroups = function(ids) {
     }
   });
 
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+  this.body.emitter.emit('change');
 };
 
 /**
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onRemoveGroups = function(ids) {
 
   this.markDirty();
 
-  this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+  this.body.emitter.emit('change');
 };
 
 /**
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onDragStart = function (event) {
  */
 ItemSet.prototype._onDrag = function (event) {
   if (this.touchParams.itemProps) {
-    var range = this.timeline.range,
+    var range = this.body.range,
         snap = this.options.snap || null,
         deltaX = event.gesture.deltaX,
         scale = (this.props.width / (range.end - range.start)),
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onDrag = function (event) {
     // TODO: implement onMoving handler
 
     this.stackDirty = true; // force re-stacking of all items next redraw
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+    this.body.emitter.emit('change');
 
     event.stopPropagation();
   }
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onDragEnd = function (event) {
             if ('end' in props)   props.item.data.end   = props.end;
 
             me.stackDirty = true; // force re-stacking of all items next redraw
-            me.timeline.emitter.emit('change');
+            me.body.emitter.emit('change');
           }
         });
       }
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onSelectItem = function (event) {
   // emit a select event,
   // except when old selection is empty and new selection is still empty
   if (newSelection.length > 0 || oldSelection.length > 0) {
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('select', {
+    this.body.emitter.emit('select', {
       items: this.getSelection()
     });
   }
@@ -1131,7 +1131,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onMultiSelectItem = function (event) {
     }
     this.setSelection(selection);
 
-    this.timeline.emitter.emit('select', {
+    this.body.emitter.emit('select', {
       items: this.getSelection()
     });
 
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/TimeAxis.js b/src/timeline/component/TimeAxis.js
index e459b70b..a14591ad 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/TimeAxis.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/TimeAxis.js
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 /**
  * A horizontal time axis
- * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter, range: Range}} timeline
+ * @param {{dom: Object, props: Object, emitter: Emitter, range: Range}} body
  * @param {Object} [options]        See TimeAxis.setOptions for the available
  *                                  options.
  * @constructor TimeAxis
  * @extends Component
  */
-function TimeAxis (timeline, options) {
+function TimeAxis (body, options) {
   this.dom = {
     foreground: null,
     majorLines: [],
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function TimeAxis (timeline, options) {
     showMajorLabels: true
   };
 
-  this.timeline = timeline;
+  this.body = body;
 
   // create the HTML DOM
   this._create();
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ TimeAxis.prototype.redraw = function () {
       background = this.dom.background;
 
   // determine the correct parent DOM element (depending on option orientation)
-  var parent = (options.orientation == 'top') ? this.timeline.dom.top : this.timeline.dom.bottom;
+  var parent = (options.orientation == 'top') ? this.body.dom.top : this.body.dom.bottom;
   var parentChanged = (foreground.parentNode !== parent);
 
   // calculate character width and height
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ TimeAxis.prototype.redraw = function () {
   props.height = props.minorLabelHeight + props.majorLabelHeight;
   props.width = foreground.offsetWidth;
 
-  props.minorLineHeight = this.timeline.props.root.height - props.majorLabelHeight -
-      (options.orientation == 'top' ? this.timeline.props.bottom.height : this.timeline.props.top.height);
+  props.minorLineHeight = this.body.props.root.height - props.majorLabelHeight -
+      (options.orientation == 'top' ? this.body.props.bottom.height : this.body.props.top.height);
   props.minorLineWidth = 1; // TODO: really calculate width
   props.majorLineHeight = props.minorLineHeight + props.majorLabelHeight;
   props.majorLineWidth = 1; // TODO: really calculate width
@@ -118,10 +118,10 @@ TimeAxis.prototype.redraw = function () {
     parent.appendChild(foreground)
   }
   if (backgroundNextSibling) {
-    this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical.insertBefore(background, backgroundNextSibling);
+    this.body.dom.backgroundVertical.insertBefore(background, backgroundNextSibling);
   }
   else {
-    this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical.appendChild(background)
+    this.body.dom.backgroundVertical.appendChild(background)
   }
 
   return this._isResized() || parentChanged;
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ TimeAxis.prototype._repaintLabels = function () {
   var orientation = this.getOption('orientation');
 
   // calculate range and step (step such that we have space for 7 characters per label)
-  var start = util.convert(this.timeline.range.start, 'Number'),
-      end = util.convert(this.timeline.range.end, 'Number'),
+  var start = util.convert(this.body.range.start, 'Number'),
+      end = util.convert(this.body.range.end, 'Number'),
       minimumStep = this.options.toTime((this.props.minorCharWidth || 10) * 7).valueOf()
           -this.options.toTime(0).valueOf();
   var step = new TimeStep(new Date(start), new Date(end), minimumStep);
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ TimeAxis.prototype._repaintMinorLine = function (x, orientation) {
     line.style.top = props.majorLabelHeight + 'px';
   }
   else {
-    line.style.top = this.timeline.props.top.height + 'px';
+    line.style.top = this.body.props.top.height + 'px';
   }
   line.style.height = props.minorLineHeight + 'px';
   line.style.left = (x - props.minorLineWidth / 2) + 'px';
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ TimeAxis.prototype._repaintMajorLine = function (x, orientation) {
     line.style.top = '0';
   }
   else {
-    line.style.top = this.timeline.props.top.height + 'px';
+    line.style.top = this.body.props.top.height + 'px';
   }
   line.style.left = (x - props.majorLineWidth / 2) + 'px';
   line.style.height = props.majorLineHeight + 'px';