Laban Movement Analysis

Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) is a method and language for describing, visualizing, interpreting, and documenting all varieties of human movement. It is one type of Laban Movement Study, originating from the work of Rudolf Laban and having been developed and extended by Lisa Ullmann, Irmgard Bartenieff, Warren Lamb, and many others. In addition many derived practices have developed with great emphasis on LMA methods.

Also known as Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis, it uses a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating contributions from anatomy, kinesiology, psychology, Labanotation and many other fields. It is used as a tool by dancers, actors, musicians, athletes, physical and occupational therapists, psychotherapy, peace studies, anthropology, business consulting, leadership development, health & wellness, and is one of the most widely used systems of human movement analysis today.

Laban Movement Analysis is generally divided into these cagetories:

• Body (Bartenieff Fundamentals sm, total-body connectivity),
• Space (Choreutics, Space Harmony),
• Effort (Energetic dynamics),
• Shape,
• Phrasing, and
• Relationships

Labanotation (or Kinetography Laban), a notation system for recording and analyzing movement, is used in LMA, but Labanotation is a separate system, regulated by separate professional bodies.

Qualified Laban Movement Analysis practitioners are known as "Certified Movement Analysts" (CMAs) or "Certified Laban/Barteinieff Movement Analysts" (CLMAs).

On a stylistic note, terms which have specific meaning in the system are typically capitalized (though this convention is not universally adhered to). Thus there is a difference between "strong weight effort" and "Strong Weight Effort". The former is an English phrase with a variety of connotations. The latter is LMA specific vocabulary referring to one of the two configurations of Weight Effort, a qualitative category of movement expression.