When Irmgard Bartenieff was unable to find a place in the American modern dance community, she returned to her original interests in biology, studying physical therapy, then working with polio victims. These experiences gave her new insight into the theories she had learned from Rudolf Laban.
Her studies with Laban in Germany focused on dance. Consequently, Laban’s theories appeared to apply to high functioning movers. When Irmgard began to work with individuals disabled by polio, she was surprised to find that Laban’s ideas were relevant here as well.
As Irmgard recalled, “The discoveries I made in my first rehabilitative work made me see Laban’s principles and theories in a much larger context. I realized that the same laws that I knew from dancing applied to rehabilitation. This realization enabled me to see the many applications possible with this material.”
Bartenieff went on to demonstrate these applications throughout the rest of her career. Learn more in the upcoming MoveScape course, “Irmgard Bartenieff: In Her Own Words.”