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Contrast of Form and Dynamics, with Affinities in Laban Analysis
(2004 J.S. Longstaff)

One of the most unique features of Laban Analysis is the systematic contrasting of elements of “form” (space, mass, direction) with those of “dynamics” (energy, effort, quality); this form/dynamic contrast is then integrated by Laban’s theory of a “correlation” or “affinities” between forms and dynamics, thus providing a method for transformations between these.

Laban Movement Analysis’ system of form and dynamics with affinities, is summarised in this table:


Form
space
shape
Dynamics
effort
energy

Several attributes are distinguished within each of the two categories:

GENERALISED FORM
SHAPE FLOW
growing / shrinking
getting big / getting small
GENERALISED DYNAMICS
EFFORT FLOW
freeing / binding
releasing / controlling

ATTRIBUTES OF SHAPE FLOW
3 DIMENSIONS = 6 DIMENSIONAL DIRECTIONS

  • 1. VERTICAL
    • upward / downward
    • (rising / descending)
    • (lengthening / shortening)

  • 2. LATERAL
    • rightward / leftward
    • (opening / closing)
    • (narrowing / widening)

  • 3. SAGITTAL
    • forward / backward
    • (advancing / retreating)
    • (bulging / hollowing)
ATTRIBUTES OF EFFORT FLOW
3 EFFORT FACTORS = 6 EFFORT ELEMENTS

  • 1. FORCE, WEIGHT
    • strong / light
    • (powerful / delicate)
    • (hard / sensitive)

  • 2. FOCUS, SPACE
    • direct / indirect
    • (direct / flexible)
    • (single-focus / multi-focus)

  • 3. TIME
    • quick / sustained
    • (hasty / languid)
    • (abrupt / gradual)


8 DIAGONALS
  1. up-forward-opening
  2. down-backward-closing
  3. up-forward-closing
  4. down-backward-opening
  5. up-backward-closing
  6. down-forward-opening
  7. up-backward-opening
  8. down-forward-closing
8 EFFORT ACTIONS
  1. floating, drifting
  2. punching, hitting, thrusting
  3. gliding, sailing
  4. slashing, whipping, ripping
  5. dabbing, patting, tapping
  6. wringing, wrenching, squeezing
  7. flicking, fluttering, flinging, slinging
  8. pressing, pushing
SPATIAL DEFLECTIONS: ‘INCLINATIONS’
  1. Dimensions are prototypes of pure stability
  2. Diagonals are prototypes of pure mobility
  3. Actual body movements occur as ‘Inclinations’ (dimensional / diagonal deflections).
EFFORT MODULATIONS
  1. Efforts continually modulate between exertion and recovery
  2. and between number of active elements
  3. Typically only one effort element changes at a time

THEORY OF AFFINITIES
Certain effort combinations are performed most efficiently in certain directions
Gives a theory for transformations from mass-to-energy and energy-to-mass