Author Archives: Carol-Lynne Moore

Body, Mind, and Harmony

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As the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki noted, “The mind and the body are not one and not two.”  This is undoubtedly one of the most vexing paradoxes of human life.   But perhaps it would not be so vexing if we simply paid more attention to movement harmony, to those moments when mind and body meld seamlessly in the medium of physical action.

Movement harmony matters because it is so ubiquitous that we take it completely for granted.  Normal voluntary movement is miraculous because most of the time we manage to accomplish what we intend without excessive conscious effort, either physical or mental.… Read More

Harmony and Disharmony

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While Laban was certainly concerned with how the different movement elements of body, space, effort, and shape cohere in meaningful human actions, he was also interested in exploring disharmony.  To widen his understanding of harmonic and disharmonic movement patterns, Laban reportedly visited a lunatic asylum in Paris in 1902, basing a later personal solo, “Marotte,” on his observations.

Notions of disharmony also served as Laban developed a repertoire for his chamber dance groups.  One type of dance was called a “grotesque.”… Read More

Harmony and Individuality

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While Laban identified relationships between body, space, effort, and shape, he did not prescribe particular movements as inherently harmonious.  Instead, he writes that “there are considerations such as individual expressiveness or taste which can influence the personal conception of harmony in movement.  Graceful movements will suit one person more than vital or bizarre movement, or the contrary may be the case.”

Individual expression depends upon the individual having a rich range of motion. Balance comes into play again here.  According to Laban,“the essential thing is that we should neither have preference for nor avoid certain movement because of physical or psychical restrictions.” … Read More

Elements of Movement Harmony II

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In addition to proportion, balance, and symmetry, Laban identified order, kinship, and unity of form as elements of movement harmony.  

Order is particularly important in spatial sequences.  For example, if a series of continuous movements were to be filmed, then cut apart and randomly spliced back together, a dream-like sequence would result, full of unexpected jumps, overlaps, and repetitions.  According to Laban, a movement makes sense only if “it progresses organically,” with phases following in a natural order of directional change.… Read More

Beyond Movement Analysis to Movement Harmony

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Recently the question has arisen as to what the body of Rudolf Laban’s work should be called.  The most commonly used moniker – Laban Movement Analysis – omits the integrative aspects of Laban’s ideas.  This is where harmony comes in.

Harmony brings things that are different into relationship with one another.  In music, harmony is heard as a relationship of different tones. In painting, harmony is seen as a relationship among different colors.

In movement, harmony unites the distinctive human faculties of thinking, feeling, willing, and doing. … Read More

The Movement Harmony Project Continues

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Although Rudolf Laban is best known for his notation and movement analysis systems, I believe that his notions of movement harmony may ultimately be the most valuable part of his legacy.  That’s why I am dedicated to articulating, exploring, and expanding Laban’s ideas.

Hence, the Movement Harmony Project!

Part 1 – a comprehensive explanation and exploration of space harmony – launched in June.  Movement Harmony ALIVE is next, coming to New York City December 7th and 8th.

Led by Cate Deicher and myself, this advanced weekend workshop is designed to take Certificated Laban Movement specialists into new territory.  … Read More

In Praise of Planar Movement

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When every third point of a Primary Scale is connected, the Cardinal Planes (Door, Table, and Wheel) appear.  However, Laban didn’t like these spatial forms. They were too “stable” for him.  He even found their oblique diameters unappealing! 

Nevertheless, I encouraged Movement Harmony participants to explore the planes and their diameters and to think about how these forms might be used.  I was vindicated by their responses!

“The planes and their diameters are truly an important aspect of our movement potential. … Read More

Cutting Through Space

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Transverse movements cut through the space between the edge of the kinesphere and the center of the kinesphere (which is occupied by the mover’s body).  In the Movement Harmony Project, we worked with several transverse spatial sequences, notably the Axis Scales.

These forms are notable because they have a companion peripheral form.  The Axis Scales share the harmonic interval of the second with Girdles, yet evoke a quite different kinesthetic feeling.

 Some participants characterized the transverse Axis Scales as “reeling and chaotic,” “sharp,” “dynamic,” “goofy,”  “playful and unpredictable.”… Read More

At the Edge of the Kinesphere

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The Primary Scales, Girdles, and Polar Triangles are all peripheral scales – spatial pathways that maintain their distance from the center of the mover’s body.  As participants explored these sequences, they reported a variety of responses to “being on the edge.

One student admitted that she “liked the loopiness” of the peripheral forms. Another participant reported the following:  “What I enjoy most about moving around the periphery is just the thing that makes me crave the return to center. The swooping, whirling ‘out there’ feeling is exciting, but too much of it makes me feel a bit crazy.” … Read More

Kinespheric Space and Bodily Feeling

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The kinesphere is not an empty space, for it has a visceral center that is occupied by the mover’s body and enlivened by his/her desires and needs.  When we move, we feel space. Literally. We have sensory systems that signal where our limbs are, our relationship to gravity, and whether we are in balance, or not.

There is a very close relationship between body and space.  Laban investigated this relationship carefully, first as a visual artist representing the human figure in motion; then as a dancer and movement theorist. … Read More