Layla Smith Signature Heading

Layla Smith

BA (Hons), MA, RDMP, CMA, DTLLS

Laban Movement Analysis


For adults, I provide group or individual sessions in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and movement observation for professional and personal development. I also offer supervision in LMA language description, reflections on clinical work and movement observation shifting through different intersubjective positions - autobiographical (self), relational (other) and socio-political (critical stance). Prices are discussed on application, and will vary depending on location, client employment status, and in the case of group LMA, the number of participants.

Icosahedron
Icosahedron - image by David Naylor

What is Laban Movement Analysis?


"Laban Movement Analysis is a theoretical framework and language for describing any movement, from a conversational hand gesture to a complex action. Certified Movement Analysts (CMAs) can observe, analyze, interpret, and prescribe movement experiences in ways that:
1. value the uniqueness of an individual’s (or culture’s) movement patterns;
2. asses physical blocks and dysfunctional movement patterns;
3. guide the individual through expressive and functional changes."
(LIMS, 1994)

LMA can offer ways of understanding and deconstructing how people cope in their environments and in relationship to self and others.



Why do we use LMA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy?


Dance Movement Psychotherapists (DMP) use LMA to gain an understanding of themselves and other’s movement profiles. It is useful to have an understanding first of your own movement preferences before you work with other people. As a DMP I work with feelings that emerge from the client and what they evoke in me which can be referred to as a felt–level response. In embodied clinical practice, dance movement psychotherapist’s use LMA as a tool to stand back and observe movement from a critical stance. It is useful to stand back and quickly be able to break down what you see when working with clients.


How is LMA helpful for clinical practice?


Learning language to describe movement using Laban and Bartenieff’s themes and Effort Factors of Weight, Space, Time and Flow can be helpful in simplifying and deconstructing sometimes complex movement patterns enabling clarity of intervention within clinical practice.



What I offer in LMA group Continued Professional Development workshops


Workshop 1 This experiential workshop will cover aspects of Laban Movement Analysis, movement observation and how it can be integrated into clinical practice. We will explore some:
• Personal movement preferences, Laban’s themes and Effort Factors
• Embodied reflections on clinical practice and movement observation

Workshop 2 Effort: Weight, Space, Time and Flow - States and Drives

Workshop 3 Introductory workshop of Laban Movement Analysis for anyone interested in movement and beginners, people with no experience of movement/non-dancers.

Workshop 4 Creative, structured and reflective improvisation workshops exploring Laban and Bartenieff’s themes.
Prices on application; dependent on group number, location/organisation and room hire.

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