Laban’s observations of the organic nature of effort mutation, in which one motion spontaneously changes to its polar opposite, occurred through his study of practical physical actions. This study led him to identify two aspects of effort – “one which is operative and objectively measurable, and the other, personal and classifiable.”
In a functional action, such as driving a nail, the mover’s focus is on an objective and measurable outcome. Am I hitting the nail hard enough? Is the nail going straight into the wood? The movement sensation in the hand holding the hammer is subsidiary in the mover’s awareness.
According to Laban, awareness of movement sensation changes in expressive situations. Find out how in the next blog.