In attempting to describe the six effort states, Laban noted that “It is difficult to attach names to these variations of the incomplete efforts as they are concerned with pure movement experience and expression.” Nevertheless, he came up with six names in contrasting pairs: awake – dreamlike, remote – near, stable – mobile.
To capture these subtle qualities, Laban drew the following relationships between motion factors. For example, Space gives information about Where; that is, our capacity to focus our movements helps us stay oriented in our surroundings. Weight provides information about What; that is, our capacity to vary pressure allows us to grasp palpable realities.
Time indicates When; that is, speeding up and slowing down allows us to pace our actions appropriately. Flow gives information about How; that is, the ability to free and bind our motions allows us to respond sensitively to where, what, and when we are acting.
Laban drew on these associations to describe more vividly the contrasting “incomplete efforts.”
Find out more in the next blogs.