Fifty years ago, I was lucky to study “effort/shape” with Irmgard Bartenieff, to assist in her classes at the Dance Notation Bureau, and to join the faculty and staff of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute when it was founded in 1978.
Irmgard managed to publish her magnus opus Body Movement in 1980 with the help of co-author Dori Lewis. The book is a wonderful resource that would not have been finished without Dori’s assistance.
But I never hear Irmgard’s voice when I read the book.
This omission led me to create the MoveScape Center course, “Irmgard Bartenieff: In Her Own Words.” This course consists of lectures, letters, and articles written by Irmgard, in addition to interviews that also capture her voice.
The course provides new perspectives on Irmgard for those who did not know her in person and will be offered again in September 2026.