Rudolf Laban (1879-1958)

Laban worked out a simple way of describing all the movements humans make, and then went on to
invent a system for developing and improving the way we move, not just in drama or dance, but in our
everyday lives. His system of movement is used around the world, in physical education, diving, dancing
and ice-skating as well as in drama. In drama, Laban’s system is really useful because it gives us a clear
and precise way of describing how we move, and it helps us to practise making our dramatic movement
more skilled and expressive so that when we are improvising or performing we can actually control and
direct our movement to enhance the drama.

Types of movement
Laban said that all the actions we make can be described as:
1 Punch or Thrust
2 Slash
3 Float
4 Glide
5 Wring
6 Press
7 Flick
8 Dab

Qualities of movement
Laban decided that there were three main things which controlled the way a movement was
done.
1 Time: all human actions are either sudden, beginning and finishing
quickly, or sustained, meaning that they go on for quite some time.
2 Weight: how much effort goes into an action. All actions were either strong or light.
3 Space: any movement we make happens in the space around us, thus all actions are
either direct or indirect.

Action Time Weight Space

A Punching action
Sudden Strong Direct
is
A Pressing action
Sustained Strong Direct
is
A Slashing action
Sudden Strong Indirect
is
A Gliding action is Sustained Light Direct
A Wringing action
Sustained Strong Indirect
is
A Floating action
Sustained Light Indirect
is
A Flicking action is Sudden Light Indirect
A Dabbing action
Sudden Light Direct
is