Laban Movement Analysis

What is LMA?

Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) provides a comprehensive vocabulary and analytic framework for the description of human movement. Using LMA, one can systematically look at a unit or phrase of movement in terms of the four major movement components (flow, weight, time and space), which can be identified and examined alone and in relationship to each other.

Bartenieff Fundamentals, an aspect of LMA, consists of a set of concepts, principles and exercises developed by Irmgard Bartenieff in applying Rudolf Laban’s movement theory to the physical/kinesiological functioning of the human body. Some of the concepts studied are: Dynamic Alignment, Breath Support, Core Support, Rotary Factor, Initiation and Sequencing, Spatial Intent, Center of Weight/Weight Transference, Effort Intent, and Developmental Patterning and its Support for Level Change.

This approach has influenced the development of the Pilates Technique in the United States in the last 35 years.