In 1962 Irmgard was invited to discuss her use of Labanotation in physical therapy at a large notation conference in New York City. Instead she pulled a “bait and switch.”
Rather than extolling structural notation, Irmgard described the value of the Effort/Shape assessment she had learned from Lamb. This notation “reveals the mental and emotional processes of the human being,” providing her with insight into the psychological ramifications of distorted physical movement. She used client case studies to demonstate how these insights enhanced her rehabilitative practices.
Irmgard closed her lecture with the following statement:
“I would recommend to my colleagues of the Dance Notation Bureau, who have in the past emphasized the importance of recording choreography for posterity by Labanotation, that we now promote with equal emphasis EFFORT notation and Observation….The existence of both notations, supplementary to each other, opens up new possibilities for research in all areas of human movement, whether it be dance, science or industry…. In this way, movement notation and observation can make a valuable contribution to the study of the behavior of man.”
Learn more about how Bartenieff has applied movement analysis to study human behavior in the upcoming MoveScape course, “Irmgard Bartenieff: In Her Own Words.”