Laban's Space Harmony Scales & Art Nouveau

 

 
Review
 
 
The Cube / Trace Forms
 
Scale A
 
Scale B


Trace Forms

I

Unit: Kinesphere

Theme: Movement Scales & Art Nouveau

 


II

Introduction 

Today we will review Laban's concept of kinesphere. The kinesphere contains the cube.Then, we will explore Laban's concept of movement scales. Laban's Movement Scales are based on the regular structures of five concentric polyhedra. These structures fit into each other like a nest of tables, from small to large although they have different forms. They can be visualised as encasing the body, with the body's centre coinciding with the centre of each form.

 

 III

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the application of the concept "trace forms."
  • Explain how "trace forms" relate to the concept of choreutics.
  • Gain awareness of the possibilities that "trace forms" bring to the organization of movement within the cube.
  • Experience the harmonic qualities of dance and movement when integrated through directions, levels, size, focus and pathways in addition to "trace forms."
  • Reflect on the work done in class

 

 IV

Main Lesson



  1


Warm Up
Alignment
Stretching
 
2


Review of Solos and Ensemble Phrases 
 
 3

 
        Harmonic Spatial Sequences Analogous to Musical Scales

However, in keeping with its Pythagorean roots, Laban's Choreutic theory goes beyond mere descriptions of natural movement to designate harmonic spatial sequences analogous to musical scales.








Source: https://movescapecenter.com/whole-body-movement/


Question 1

In which way are musical scales and harmonic spatial sequences analogous to each other? 

 

4

 

Activity 1


Create your own scale by choosing a geometric figure and designing 8 movements within it. Create your own “harmonic” three-dimensional patterns by adding other dimensions to your 8 moves.






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5


Art Nouveau

In creating these harmonic designs, Laban utilizes his artistic understanding of human anatomy, proportion, and range of motion. Moreover, he draws on his Art Nouveau background to generate spatial patterns that are highly symmetrical.






Art Nouveau designers stylized the curves of natural forms such as butterflies, flowers, and leaves to create beautiful two-dimensional patterns.



Question 2

What is Art Nouveau?



6


ACTIVITY 2


 Bring your 8 movements to your group. Offer your moves to your group. Add an Art- Noveau style, whatever that means to you, to your movements, based on the video above. 

 
7
 
 
Activity 3
 
Practice the scale and add it to your ensemble phrases
 

--------------------------------------------

V
A Note to Remember  
 
Laban’s space harmony scales are similar. Laban has taken the curves of natural movements and geometricized them, creating “harmonic” three-dimensional patterns. 
 
 
 
VI
Case Study
 
 
Marie Boyette is an Assistant Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut where her primary responsibility is movement training for actors. In this video, her Freshman actors at UConn learn and play with the diagonal scale. (3)





 The video above shows an example of a “harmonic” three-dimensional pattern. Compare this one with you own. 


Question 3

What did you experience?

POST YOUR ANSWERS ON BLACKBOARD'S DISCUSSION BOARD.



VII

Glossary
 
Polyhedra:  Platonic solid, any of the five geometric solids whose faces are all identical, regular polygons meeting at the same three-dimensional angles. Also known as the five regular polyhedra, they consist of the tetrahedron (or pyramid), cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron.(2)
 
 
VIII
Sources


In Praise of Whole Body Movement (2014). https://movescapecenter.com/2014/02/17/whole-body-movement/
 
  2.  Platonic Solid. https://www.britannica.com/science/Platonic-solid

3. Boyette, Marie (2015) The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Theater. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-dance-and-theater-9780199917495
 
 
IX
 Journaling
 
 
X
 Students' Work


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