What is LMA
Like objects can be described by their form, color and size, movement can be described by the moving body parts, movement quality, relationship to the environment and the use of space.
Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) provides us with a language to do so, both enabling us to describe movement within the categories Body, Effort, Shape and Space, as well as giving us full understanding of the movement experience as a whole. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of movement are taken into account.
“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 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 Studies (LBMS), 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.”from: Wikipedia
Click here to find an overview of almost all elements, concepts and relationships.
The taxonomy is downloadable for free.
In this animated presentation it is explained how the system is used to analyze and grasp the essence of human movement:
Other online information on LMA created by me
I love to exert my computer knowledge to develop digital training material and tools to make LMA more comprehensible and understood (like my Taxonomy and the Moving Space for Web) and to make sure there is more information available online.
Here’s a list of tools and information created by myself:
- Wikipedia articles on Space Harmony, Irmgard Bartenieff and LIMS
- Laban Scales animated for web
- Graphic of all 26 Directions and their symbols
Websites and tools created by others
- Moving Space by Brenton Cheng
- Other tools by Breton Cheng at LabanLabs
- Movement Has Meaning by Robin Konin and others