Laban 8 Effort Actions

 

I

 

Unit: Laban's Movement Components

Theme: Efforts

Introduction

 

Laban categorized human movement into four component parts: Direction, Weight, Speed & Flow. Each component has two qualities. Direction can be direct or indirect. Weight can be heavy or light. Speed can be fast or slow. Flow can be bound or free. These components and ther qualities we have indirectly addressed in class.

Laban also identified 8 efforts in movement. Laban named these Effort qualities: Floating, Dabbing, Wringing, Thrusting, Pressing, Flicking, Slashing, and Gliding. Laban identified these Efforts by breaking down movement into what he called the Motion Factors of Weight, Time and Space.

 

 

II 

 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the embodiment of movement
• Explain the relationship between movement components and efforts
• Gather awareness of how these movements influence your work 
• Experience the integration of these concepts with your dance
  

 

III

 

Main Lesson

 

1

 

 

 

 

Laban’s Eight Effort Actions:   

The Eight Effort Actions help clients both physically and emotionally to embody and understand internal impulse while developing an expressive body. 

 

•Wring:

•Press

•Flick

•Dab

•Glide

•Float

•Punch

•Slash

V

Note to Remember

Both movement components and efforts add layers of detail and complexity to the  work of the dancer.

 

 VI

 Case Study

 Vanessa Ewan leads this movement direction masterclass, guiding an actor playing Nora from A Doll's House using techniques to explore physicality and enhance character transformation. 

 

 

VII

Activities 

1

 Create an 8 movements phrase in which each move has:

 

1.  One direction (direct)
2.  One direction ( indirect)
3.  One weight (light)
4.  One weight (heavy)
5.  One speed (quick) 
6.  One speed (sustained) 
7.  One flow (bound)
8.  One flow (free). 
   

Question 1

 

Write your response to this exercise, in terms of how it felt in your body, on Discussion Board. How would this exercise affect your sense of movement embodiment?

 

2

Add to your previous movement phrase the efforts listed above (one effort per movement). Add music to your phrase.

 

Question 2

Mention an ordinary (everyday life) movement that matches each one of the 8 efforts listed below:

 

•Wring:

•Press

•Flick

•Dab

•Glide

•Float

•Punch

•Slash

 

Question 3

 

Which of these movements apply to your own character? Explain why?

 Those making up, please, do the work on your own and write yours responses on Discussion Board.

 

 

VIII

Journaling

 

IX

Glossary

 

X

Sources

 

XI

 

STUDENT"S WORK 

 Accompanying music: Sergei Prokofiev's

                        1. Sinfonie (»Symphonie classique«) 

r-Sinfonieorchester – Frankfurt Radio Symphony ∙ 

François Leleux, Dirigent ∙ hr-Sendesaal , 

12. Mai 2017 ∙