Overviews of Laban Analysis & Laban Notation
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 Labans 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:
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Form
space
shape
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Dynamics
effort
energy
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Several attributes are distinguished within each of the two categories:
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GENERALISED FORM
SHAPE FLOW
growing / shrinking
getting big / getting small
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GENERALISED DYNAMICS
EFFORT FLOW
freeing / binding
releasing / controlling
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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)
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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)
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8 DIAGONALS
- up-forward-opening
- down-backward-closing
- up-forward-closing
- down-backward-opening
- up-backward-closing
- down-forward-opening
- up-backward-opening
- down-forward-closing
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8 EFFORT ACTIONS
- floating, drifting
- punching, hitting, thrusting
- gliding, sailing
- slashing, whipping, ripping
- dabbing, patting, tapping
- wringing, wrenching, squeezing
- flicking, fluttering, flinging, slinging
- pressing, pushing
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SPATIAL DEFLECTIONS: INCLINATIONS
- Dimensions are prototypes of pure stability
- Diagonals are prototypes of pure mobility
- Actual body movements occur as Inclinations (dimensional / diagonal deflections).
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EFFORT MODULATIONS
- Efforts continually modulate between exertion and recovery
- and between number of active elements
- Typically only one effort element changes at a time
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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
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