Laban based his effort theory on the “8 Basic Actions,” or the eight qualitative variations of the Action Drive. Then he had the nifty idea that each of these basic actions could be linked to a corner of the cubic model of the kinesphere. In the upcoming MoveScape Center course, “The Action Drive,” I argue that this model of effort/space affinities, nifty as it may be, leads to very stereotyped ways of embodying the basic actions.
Because these basic actions are utilized primarily in working with material objects, they actually occur everywhere! By everywhere, I mean not only constantly in everyday activities, but also in every area of the kinesphere.
In “The Action Drive” course starting April 16, we will liberate the Basic 8 – freeing them from the cube and its diagonals and letting them happen where they need to happen. We will find these fundamental actions in videos and our own practical endeavors. And along the way, we will discover many new and different ways to Float and Punch and Dab and Slash and Wring….
Don’t delay, this action-packed excursion departs soon!