Laban Movement Analysis
A practitioner directory for Laban Movement Analysis, a framework for understanding and shaping character movement
Overview
The Laban Movement Analysis directory helps actors connect with certified movement analysts who teach this influential framework for understanding human movement. Developed by Rudolf Laban, the system gives actors a detailed vocabulary and toolkit for creating distinct character physicalities.
Laban's framework breaks movement down into categories including Body, Effort, Shape, and Space. By learning to identify and manipulate these elements, actors can make precise physical choices that differentiate one character from another in compelling ways.
How It Works
The directory lists Certified Movement Analysts and Laban-trained teachers by location, many of whom work with actors in studios, universities, and private coaching settings. Workshops and intensive courses are also listed for deeper immersion.
The directory is free to access. Session and workshop costs vary by practitioner and format, but private coaching typically ranges from $75 to $150 per session.
Who Uses It
Laban Movement Analysis gives you a systematic approach to character physicality that goes beyond instinct. If you have ever struggled to find a character's walk or physical energy, Laban work provides a concrete method for making those discoveries. The Effort qualities alone, which describe movement in terms of Weight, Time, Space, and Flow, give you a vocabulary for making precise physical choices that you can replicate night after night in performance. Directors and choreographers who are familiar with Laban terminology will appreciate your ability to communicate about movement in specific, shared language rather than vague descriptions.
Pricing & Plans
The Laban Movement Analysis directory is free to access with no registration or fees. Private coaching with a Certified Movement Analyst typically costs $75 to $150 per session, with most practitioners charging $85-120 for a one-hour session in major markets. Group workshops range from $25 to $60 per session and offer a more affordable way to learn the fundamentals, though they lack the individualized feedback of private coaching. Intensive certification programs, such as the Laban/Bartenieff Institute's training in New York, can cost $3,000-8,000 depending on the level and duration, but full certification is only necessary if you plan to teach the method professionally. Many acting studios and university extension programs offer Laban-based movement courses at standard class tuition rates of $200-500 for multi-week series, which is often the most practical way for actors to study the fundamentals. Compared to other movement training approaches, Laban coaching is priced similarly to Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais private sessions, but offers a more analytical and character-focused approach rather than a somatic or tension-release orientation.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Laban Movement Analysis provides the most comprehensive and specific vocabulary for describing human movement that exists in the performing arts, giving actors a shared language with directors, choreographers, and movement coaches. The system is highly practical for character development, as you can make concrete decisions about a character's movement qualities and replicate those choices consistently across performances. Unlike purely somatic methods that focus on your own body awareness, Laban is externally oriented and directly applicable to creating distinct physicalities for different characters in your repertoire. The framework is versatile enough to apply to everything from realistic drama to highly stylized physical theater, period pieces, and even animated voice work where physicality informs vocal quality. Workshops and group classes create a collaborative learning environment where you practice observing and analyzing other people's movement, which sharpens your eye for physical detail in scene partners and real-life character research. The Effort framework is particularly useful for auditions, as you can quickly make bold physical choices that differentiate your interpretation from other actors reading for the same role.
What Could Be Better
The analytical nature of Laban work can feel overly intellectual for actors who prefer intuitive, feeling-based approaches to character development, and the terminology takes time to internalize before it becomes a practical tool. Learning the full Laban system, which includes Body, Effort, Shape, and Space categories each with multiple subcategories, is complex and can take months or years to master, which may frustrate actors looking for quick results. The directory does not always clearly indicate which practitioners focus specifically on actors versus dancers, therapists, or corporate clients, and the teaching approach varies significantly based on the practitioner's background. Private coaching is expensive enough that most actors cannot afford ongoing sessions, and the skills can be difficult to maintain and deepen without regular practice or a practice partner. The method is better at helping you create and articulate physical choices than at releasing the habitual tensions that may prevent you from fully executing those choices, so it often needs to be combined with a somatic method like Alexander or Feldenkrais. Not all directors are familiar with Laban terminology, so the shared vocabulary benefit only applies when working with collaborators who have similar training, and using Laban jargon with an unfamiliar director may create confusion rather than clarity.
Our Recommendation
Laban Movement Analysis is ideal for actors who want a systematic, analytical approach to character physicality and who enjoy intellectual frameworks that organize creative choices. It is particularly valuable for actors who tend to play characters that all move the same way and want a concrete method for differentiating their physical work from role to role. Theater actors benefit especially from Laban training because stage work demands more deliberate and projected physicality than screen work, and the framework helps you make choices that read clearly from the back of the house. Screen actors will still find value in the subtler aspects of Effort work, but may not need the full spatial and shape components that are more relevant to stage and dance. If you are already comfortable with intuitive physical work and have a strong movement background, Laban analysis can codify what you are already doing instinctively and give you tools for extending that range. Start with a group workshop or multi-week class rather than private coaching, as the fundamentals are best learned in a group setting where you can observe and analyze other movers alongside your own practice.
Pro Tips
Begin by studying just the four Effort qualities, which are Weight, Time, Space, and Flow, as this single component of the Laban system provides the most immediately applicable tools for character work. Practice by observing people in public spaces and silently analyzing their movement using Effort terminology, noting whether someone moves with strong or light weight, sudden or sustained time, direct or indirect space, and bound or free flow. When preparing a new character, write down your Effort choices before rehearsal and physically practice them, noticing how different combinations create entirely different physical presences and emotional impressions. Use YouTube videos of Laban workshops and demonstrations to supplement your in-person training, as many Certified Movement Analysts post excellent free educational content online. In rehearsal, resist the urge to explain your Laban-based choices using terminology that other cast members may not understand, and instead simply make the physical choices and let the results speak for themselves. Keep a character movement journal where you document the Laban profile for each role you play, building a reference library over time that helps you avoid unconsciously repeating the same physical patterns from project to project.