One of the things I have appreciated most about Warren Lamb’s work is how faithfully it adheres to the basic principles of movement set out by Rudolf Laban.
For example, Laban’s taxonomy has two broad categories: effort and space. Effort consists of four motion factors: Space, Weight, Time, and Flow. Qualities of these factors can be combined, to produce a wide variety of dynamic expressions.
Laban’s spatial scheme starts from a simple delineation of the cardinal directions – vertical, horizontal, and sagittal. In natural movement these dimensional inclinations combine, resulting in a wide variety of complex movement shapes.
Laban also identified relationships between effort and space, noting that “the body and its limbs are able to execute certain dynamic nuances in movement towards certain areas in space better than towards others.” This observation underlies his theory of effort/space affinities and disaffinities.
Finally, Laban detected relationships between the motion factors of physical effort and mental processes involved in giving Attention, forming an Intention to act, and Commiting the action.
The Movement Pattern Analysis profile developed by Lamb rests solidly on Laban’s foundational work. Lamb’s lifetime of movement study, however, refines and extends Laban’s ideas.
For example, Lamb discerned relationships not only between effort factors and mental processes, but also between spatial aspects of movement and the decision-making processes of giving Attention, forming an Intention, and making a Commitment to action.
Lamb found that effort/space affinities impact the nature of face-to-face interaction. He discovered a relationship between the complexity of movement and the relative intensity of an individual’s motivation to act.
In short, Lamb took Laban’s movement scheme and gave each part meaning in behavioral terms.
Intrigued? To find out more, come to Golden, Colorado in May for the Motus Humanus advanced seminar, “Lamb Legacy Lives.”