Laban Movement System - BASIC ACTION DRIVES
(Rudolph Von Laban 1879 – 1958. Choreographer &
Director.)
Through observing & analyzing individual movement,
Laban discovered most people have energetic qualities
that are the result of an internal dynamic. This
individual dynamic is a result of the interaction of the
different aspects of the self (essential and social). These
largely unconscious aspects of self interact through the
neuromuscular system to generate physical choices that
fall into the range of what he called ‘effort’:
‘Effort is the term used to refer to the inner urge or drive
towards movement. The resulting movement will either
be an action (a gesture, step, body shift) if fully developed
or, in one initiated which then dies away, a ‘shadow
movement’ (a small body movement, seemingly with no
external aim: a raised eyebrow or frown, a tapping finger,
a shoulder twitch…) ‘ Laban – Modern Educational
Dance 1963
When people interact, they usually take a particular
attitude or tendency toward one or more of these
efforts in their actions. Laban divided them into four
categories: FLOW, WEIGHT, TIME & SPACE.
Each category is subdivided into two opposites that
represent a continuum.
1)Flow continuum from bound to free
2)Weight continuum from strong to light
3)Time continuum from sudden to sustained
4)Space continuum from direct to indirect
Individual movement styles create a movement
signature that is a combination of different efforts.
Learning to distinguish visually and kinesthetically the
various efforts increases your potential choices by
expanding your range of movement. An understanding
and awareness of effort qualities also provides a
method for analyzing the movement of others.
Free Flow qualities: fluid, uncontrolled, abandoned,
wholehearted
Bound Flow qualities : careful, controlled, restrained,
cautious, limited
Strong Weight verbs: resist, force, defy, oppose, prevent
Light Weight verbs: tame, subdue, calm, pacify, placate
Sudden Time qualities: urgent, sharp, staccato, excited,
instantaneous
Sustained Time qualities : prolonged, legato, lingering,
indulging
Direct Space qualities : pinpointed, channelled, zeroing
in, single focus, restricted
Indirect Space qualities: roundabout, wandering,
undulating, deviating, flexible
BASIC ACTION DRIVE TENDENCIES
Direct, Strong, Sustained = a ‘Presser’
Direct, Strong, Sudden = a ‘Puncher’
Direct, Light, Sudden = a ‘Dabber’
Indirect, Light, Sudden = a ‘Flicker’
Indirect, Strong, Sudden = a ‘Slasher’
Indirect, Strong, Sustained = a ‘Wringer’
Indirect, Light, Sustained = a ‘Floater’
Direct, Light, Sustained = a ‘Glider’
These all influence the quality of overall movement –
the FLOW, from Bound to Free.
PERSONAL NOTES. (Also found as part of homework for
Online students)
I think my tendency is towards _________________
movement. (Direct/indirect)
Most often my natural movement tends to be more
_________________ (Strong/light)
I feel more at ease moving in a ____________________
manner. (Sustained/quick)
So that would qualify me as a ______puncher______in this
system. (See above)
In the creation of your character you will change at
least one of these movement qualities to become a
different ‘Type’:
I choose to consciously alter the _________
____ aspect of my movement & energy.
( Flow/Weight/Time/Space)
Which would make my character a
____________floater/glider________ in this system.
