Movement is the fundamental discourse of the body for dancers and non-dancers. And dancers tend to have a stronger foundational understanding of how physical language can be used to communicate. The vocabulary of this language is organized as aspects of movement in the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System (LBMS). LBMS organizes aspects of movement in terms of Body, Effort, Shape, and Space - components of what is known as Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). Using these four aspects of movement, dancers build awareness of their movement preferencesin order to communicate more effectively. In particular, the dynamic of effort is inherent to classical Indian dance forms and is integral in how dancers can consider more effective ways to communicate.

In this introductory workshop on LBMS, certified movement analyst and Bharatanatyam dancer Nalini Prakash offers insight into ways dance practitioners can further understand how they can be more embodied movers in their practice and performance. In parallel, dance teachers enhance their ability to better train students while considering these aspects of movement.