Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which Shape mode is most self-referential and least related to the external environment?

Directional Arc-like
Directional Spoke-like
Shape Flow (Correct answer)
Carving / Shaping

Correct answer: Shape Flow

Shape Flow is the most self-referential mode — the body grows and shrinks in relation to its own center rather than in relationship with the environment.

Question 2: The Head-Tail body connectivity pattern primarily emphasizes which aspect of movement organization?

The relationship between the upper and lower body halves at the waist
Connection along the spinal axis from cranium to coccyx (Correct answer)
Cross-body coordination between right and left sides
The relationship between the arms and the legs

Correct answer: Connection along the spinal axis from cranium to coccyx

Head-Tail connectivity involves awareness and active use of the spinal/axial connection from the cranium to the coccyx.

Question 3: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

The spatial pathway traced by the feet
The relationship between two movers
The three-dimensional changing of the body's shape in relation to itself (Correct answer)
The effort quality of a movement phrase

Correct answer: The three-dimensional changing of the body's shape in relation to itself

Shape Flow describes the body growing and shrinking three-dimensionally in relation to its own center, independent of the environment.

Question 4: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

Moving along the sagittal axis only
The effort qualities used in movement
Controlling breath during movement
Three-dimensional volumetric shaping of the body in relationship with the environment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Three-dimensional volumetric shaping of the body in relationship with the environment

Shaping or Carving is the three-dimensional, sculptural forming of the body around objects, people, or space in the environment.

Question 5: Body-Half (homolateral) connectivity pattern emphasizes the relationship between:

The arm and leg on the same side of the body (Correct answer)
The upper and lower halves of the body at the waist
The axial spine from head to tailbone
Opposite limbs such as right arm and left leg

Correct answer: The arm and leg on the same side of the body

Body-Half connectivity involves ipsilateral coordination—right arm with right leg or left arm with left leg working together.

Question 6: When a CMA notes that a client's movement shows 'Upper–Lower' connectivity, this means the client demonstrates:

Spinal undulation linking head to tail
Isolated movement of the extremities without core involvement
Coordination between the upper and lower halves of the body across the horizontal midline (Correct answer)
Arms and legs moving in mirror-image patterns

Correct answer: Coordination between the upper and lower halves of the body across the horizontal midline

Upper–Lower connectivity describes the functional relationship between the upper and lower halves of the body divided at the horizontal midline (waist).

Question 7: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

Reducing the size of movement
Moving toward the active, fighting end of an Effort factor (Correct answer)
Using bound flow exclusively
Combining two planes simultaneously

Correct answer: Moving toward the active, fighting end of an Effort factor

Condensing means moving toward the active or 'fighting' pole of an Effort factor, such as being strong, direct, sudden, or bound.

Question 8: Continuum Movement, developed by Emilie Conrad, emphasizes:

Codified sequences derived from ballet technique
Fluid, exploratory movement arising from breath and internal impulse (Correct answer)
Strength conditioning through water resistance
Partner contact improvisation scores

Correct answer: Fluid, exploratory movement arising from breath and internal impulse

Continuum Movement invites fluid, self-directed movement exploration initiated by breath and sound to access the body's innate intelligence and fluid nature.

Question 9: A child repeatedly organizes movement around upper-lower body split, using both arms together and both legs together. Which Body connectivity pattern is dominant?

Homolateral
Core-distal
Homologous (Correct answer)
Contralateral

Correct answer: Homologous

Homologous connectivity involves upper and lower halves of the body moving as unified units, as in jumping or pushing with both hands.

Question 10: 'Grounding' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

Establishing an active, dynamic relationship with the support surface through the body's weight (Correct answer)
A metaphor for emotional stability
Electrical safety procedures for movers
Staying immobile during movement observation

Correct answer: Establishing an active, dynamic relationship with the support surface through the body's weight

Grounding in BF is the active, yielding engagement with the support surface — the body dynamically giving its weight into the ground to gain support.

Question 11: An 'Effort drive' in LMA combines how many Effort motion factors?

Three (Correct answer)
Four
Two
One

Correct answer: Three

An Effort drive is a combination of three of the four motion factors, each time omitting one factor which characterizes the drive type.

Question 12: The developmental movement pattern called 'homolateral' involves:

Both arms and both legs moving simultaneously
Same-side arm and leg working together (Correct answer)
Only the spine moving
Opposite arm and leg working together

Correct answer: Same-side arm and leg working together

Homolateral movement involves ipsilateral patterning — the arm and leg on the same side of the body working together, as in some reptile movements.

Question 13: When a mover's Shape changes consistently match their Effort qualities (e.g., Strong + Shaping-Enclosing), what LMA concept does this exemplify?

Postural-gestural merging
Drive expression
Effort-Shape affinity or integration (Correct answer)
Spatial-effort harmony

Correct answer: Effort-Shape affinity or integration

When Effort and Shape qualities align meaningfully, it indicates integration of inner attitude (Effort) and outer form (Shape), a sign of expressive coherence.

Question 14: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, the 'pelvic lateral shift' exercise primarily trains:

Rotational momentum in the arms
Effort dynamics in the lower extremities
Breath support and vocal tone
Weight shift and weight-bearing connectivity through the pelvis and hip joints (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Weight shift and weight-bearing connectivity through the pelvis and hip joints

The pelvic lateral shift trains weight shift, lateral connectivity, and the relationship between the pelvis, hip joints, and support in locomotion.

Question 15: The concept of 'voluminousness' in Space Harmony describes movement that:

Uses minimal effort
Fills three-dimensional space fully (Correct answer)
Follows only peripheral pathways
Stays in one plane

Correct answer: Fills three-dimensional space fully

Voluminousness refers to movement that expands into and fully occupies three-dimensional space, engaging the depth and breadth of the kinesphere.

Question 16: In assessing developmental movement, a CMA notes a child's inability to use carving/shaping. This suggests a deficit in:

Effort variation
Personal body rhythm and breath
Spatial awareness and environmental relationship-building (Correct answer)
Linear reach and retract skills

Correct answer: Spatial awareness and environmental relationship-building

Carving/Shaping is the mode through which movers relate volumetrically to the environment; its absence suggests difficulty forming three-dimensional relationships with space and people.

Question 17: How does somatic movement therapy assist individuals?

Focus only on external performance
Push beyond pain limits
Reconnect with bodily sensations (Correct answer)
Achieve peak athleticism

Correct answer: Reconnect with bodily sensations

Somatic movement therapy assists individuals by guiding them to reconnect with their internal bodily sensations, feelings, and movements. This process helps them become more aware of habitual patterns, areas of tension, and discomfort, fostering a deeper mind-body connection. By bringing conscious attention to these sensations, individuals can learn to release chronic stress, improve posture, and develop more efficient and comfortable movement.

Question 18: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

Bound flow and condensed effort
Narrowing and shortening of the body
Collapsing inward toward the core
Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center

Growing Shape Flow is the outward, expansive change in body shape — opening, widening, lengthening, or bulging away from center.

Question 19: In the context of somatic practices, 'embodiment' is best understood as:

Living as and through the body with full subjective awareness, rather than treating the body as an object (Correct answer)
The physical fitness level of the practitioner
Achieving anatomically correct alignment in static posture
The memorization of codified movement sequences in the body

Correct answer: Living as and through the body with full subjective awareness, rather than treating the body as an object

Embodiment in somatic discourse refers to the experiential, first-person, subjective inhabiting of the body as a living subject — contrasted with treating the body as an external object to be corrected.

Question 20: Which of the following Bartenieff Fundamentals exercises directly trains the 'Head–Tail' connectivity pattern?

Lateral Shift
Pelvic Forward Shift
Spinal push-up or spinal undulation (Correct answer)
Arm Circle

Correct answer: Spinal push-up or spinal undulation

Spinal undulations and related exercises develop Head–Tail connectivity by sequencing movement through the entire spine from sacrum to cranium.

Question 21: When observing movement patterns over time, what does 'Phrase' refer to in Laban Movement Analysis?

The effort quality dominant in a sequence
A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)
The rhythmic count of musical beats
The spatial pathway traced by a limb

Correct answer: A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end

A movement phrase is a meaningful unit of movement that has an arc-like structure: preparation, main action, and recovery.

Question 22: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

Combines all four Effort factors
Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive (Correct answer)
Only uses Space and Time
Emphasizes emotional expression over function

Correct answer: Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive

The Action Drive omits Flow and combines Weight, Space, and Time, producing the eight basic effort actions used for functional task completion.

Question 23: Shape Flow Support refers to:

The floor or surface the body rests on
The memorization of spatial scales
A technique for supporting injured movers
The way Shape Flow changes underlie and support Effort expression (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The way Shape Flow changes underlie and support Effort expression

Shape Flow Support describes how the body's growing/shrinking three-dimensional changes serve as a substrate that supports and facilitates Effort expression.

Question 24: In observing Effort, a CMA would identify 'indirect' Space Effort in a mover who:

Moves in a straight line toward a target
Sustains movement over a long time
Meanders, taking a roundabout path and attending to many things at once (Correct answer)
Uses strong physical force

Correct answer: Meanders, taking a roundabout path and attending to many things at once

Indirect Space Effort is seen when a mover's attention is flexible and multi-focused, leading to roundabout, flexible paths rather than straight lines.

Question 25: A 'metric' movement phrase is characterized by:

Regular, countable rhythmic units organized by a consistent pulse (Correct answer)
Movement that traces specific geometric spatial pathways
Continuous, breath-driven flow without audible accents
Improvised timing with unpredictable, freely varied rhythmic patterns

Correct answer: Regular, countable rhythmic units organized by a consistent pulse

Metric phrasing organizes movement into regular, measurable rhythmic units anchored to a consistent beat or pulse.

Question 26: The concept of 'Affordances of Space' in LMA refers to:

The body's maximum physical reach potential
The qualities and action possibilities offered by specific spatial directions or tensions (Correct answer)
The number of square feet available to a performer
The weight distribution across different spatial levels

Correct answer: The qualities and action possibilities offered by specific spatial directions or tensions

Spatial affordances describe how different spatial tensions and directions suggest or invite particular movement qualities and actions.

Question 27: Labanotation is a system for:

Scoring music for dance accompaniment
Categorizing personality types by movement
Recording human movement in written symbols (Correct answer)
Documenting stage lighting designs

Correct answer: Recording human movement in written symbols

Labanotation is a comprehensive written notation system for recording human movement, developed by Rudolf Laban.

Question 28: When an LMA analyst observes body connectivity patterns in a mover, the primary focus is on:

How body parts coordinate, support, or inhibit one another in movement organization (Correct answer)
Whether movements conform to standard developmental milestone timelines
Which specific muscles are recruited in each movement
The aesthetic quality and artistic merit of the movement sequences

Correct answer: How body parts coordinate, support, or inhibit one another in movement organization

LMA body connectivity analysis examines the relational and organizational patterns between body parts, noting coordination, support, restriction, or disconnection.

Question 29: A CMA observing a negotiation meeting notes that one participant's gestures frequently cross the body midline into the opposite half-space. Which spatial pattern is being described?

Sagittal advancing gesture
Contralateral cross-lateral reaching into opposite half-space (Correct answer)
Vertical plane side-by-side reaching
Homolateral same-side movement

Correct answer: Contralateral cross-lateral reaching into opposite half-space

Contralateral or cross-lateral movement crosses the body midline, connecting opposite halves and often signaling engagement and integration.

Question 30: The concept of 'inhibition' in the Alexander Technique means:

Restricting range of motion to avoid injury
Inhibiting the stretch reflex through passive stretching
Pausing to prevent habitual reactive responses before acting (Correct answer)
Suppressing emotional expression during movement

Correct answer: Pausing to prevent habitual reactive responses before acting

In AT, inhibition is the conscious pause between stimulus and response that allows the practitioner to choose a new, non-habitual action rather than reacting automatically.

Question 31: The principle of 'non-maleficence' as applied to CMA practice most directly means:

The practitioner must avoid causing physical or psychological harm through their analysis and interventions (Correct answer)
All movement analysis sessions must be filmed to prevent false allegations
Clients should be prevented from attempting challenging movement patterns
The practitioner should always make movement feel pleasant for the client

Correct answer: The practitioner must avoid causing physical or psychological harm through their analysis and interventions

Non-maleficence obligates CMAs to actively prevent harm in both the process and application of movement analysis.

Question 32: Which of the following is one of the six basic Bartenieff Fundamental exercises?

Thigh lift (Correct answer)
Plié
Forward roll
Arabesque

Correct answer: Thigh lift

The thigh lift is one of the six classic Bartenieff Fundamental exercises, targeting the hip socket and core-distal connectivity.

Question 33: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Time (Correct answer)
Flow
Space
Weight

Correct answer: Time

Suddenness is the condensed, urgent quality of the Time Effort factor, contrasting with the lingering quality of sustained.

Question 34: A CMA working with children must obtain informed consent from:

Only the CMA's institutional supervisor
The child alone if they are over age seven
A parent or legal guardian, and where developmentally appropriate, assent from the child (Correct answer)
The school principal as the in loco parentis authority

Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian, and where developmentally appropriate, assent from the child

Working with minors requires parental or guardian consent plus age-appropriate assent from the child to respect their developing autonomy.

Question 35: Why are ethical standards important in movement analysis?

To increase competition
To ensure respect and professionalism (Correct answer)
To promote personal interests
To limit client options

Correct answer: To ensure respect and professionalism

Ethical standards are fundamental in movement analysis to build and maintain trust with clients. They ensure that practitioners conduct themselves with integrity, respect client autonomy, and uphold professional boundaries. This framework guarantees that all interactions and analyses are performed with the client's well-being and best interests as the priority, fostering a professional and respectful environment.

Question 36: Which Shape quality describes movement that narrows the body by pulling the arms inward horizontally?

Retreating
Enclosing (Correct answer)
Sinking
Rising

Correct answer: Enclosing

Enclosing is the horizontal shape quality of gathering or narrowing the body inward, like wrapping arms around oneself.

Question 37: In choreology, what does 'kinesphere' refer to?

The floor pattern of a dance
The rhythm of locomotion
The emotional quality of movement
The space immediately surrounding the body within reach (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The space immediately surrounding the body within reach

The kinesphere is the personal space bubble immediately surrounding the body—the reach space available without changing the base of support.

Question 38: A CMA observes a client whose movement lacks volumetric shaping and relies entirely on spoke-like directionals. A likely implication is:

Highly advanced spatial intelligence
Excellent three-dimensional relationship with the environment
Limited ability to form adaptive, enveloping relationships with people or objects (Correct answer)
Over-reliance on bound flow

Correct answer: Limited ability to form adaptive, enveloping relationships with people or objects

Without volumetric shaping, the mover cannot adapt their body three-dimensionally around others or objects, limiting nuanced environmental interaction.

Question 39: The Alexander Technique's 'primary control' refers to the dynamic relationship between:

The pelvis and lumbar spine
The head, neck, and back (Correct answer)
The feet and the center of gravity
The sternum and clavicles

Correct answer: The head, neck, and back

F.M. Alexander identified 'primary control' as the dynamic relationship of the head, neck, and back, which organizes overall coordination and postural tone.

Question 40: In Laban's spatial theory, 'deflection' means:

A slight deviation from a pure spatial direction toward an adjacent one (Correct answer)
Moving only in one plane
Changing effort quality during movement
Moving away from the kinesphere entirely

Correct answer: A slight deviation from a pure spatial direction toward an adjacent one

Deflection is a slight swerving from a pure dimensional or diagonal direction toward a neighboring spatial point, creating oblique paths.

Question 41: How does the Body category of LMA differ from the Effort category?

Body is observed externally while Effort is assessed only through self-report
Body addresses which body parts move and how they are organized; Effort describes movement qualities and dynamics (Correct answer)
Body applies only to trained performers while Effort applies to all movers
Body focuses on spatial pathways while Effort focuses on timing alone

Correct answer: Body addresses which body parts move and how they are organized; Effort describes movement qualities and dynamics

The Body category concerns which parts are active and their organizational connectivity, while Effort describes the dynamic qualities—Weight, Space, Time, and Flow—of movement.

Question 42: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

Gravity, Symmetry, Tempo, Breath
Force, Direction, Rhythm, Shape
Strength, Speed, Tension, Pathway
Weight, Space, Time, Flow (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Weight, Space, Time, Flow

The four Effort motion factors are Weight (strong/light), Space (direct/indirect), Time (sudden/sustained), and Flow (bound/free).

Question 43: Cross-Lateral (contralateral) body connectivity involves coordination between:

Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg (Correct answer)
The relationship between core and peripheral body parts
Any movement that crosses the body's midline
Movement that traverses multiple spatial planes simultaneously

Correct answer: Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg

Cross-Lateral connectivity integrates diagonal pairs of opposite limbs in a counter-balancing pattern essential to mature locomotion.

Question 44: A CMA observing a student who consistently holds breath during effort, collapses the chest, and rushes transitions would note these as signs of dysregulation in which Bartenieff concept?

Breath Support and Phrasing (Correct answer)
Spatial Intent
Effort-Shape integration
Body Attitude

Correct answer: Breath Support and Phrasing

Breath Support and Phrasing in Bartenieff Fundamentals addresses how breath organizes movement initiation, effort, and recovery — dysregulation shows up as holding, collapse, and rushed phrases.

Question 45: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment (Correct answer)
A three-dimensional volumetric enclosure
A curved arc through space
A rotational pathway

Correct answer: A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment

Spoke-like directional movement creates a straight linear reach, like a spoke on a wheel radiating from the hub to the rim.

Question 46: According to professional ethics for CMAs, when publishing movement analysis research, the practitioner should:

Attribute all movement observations solely to the Laban framework without acknowledging subjects
Publish raw data without interpretation to avoid bias
Obtain appropriate consent, anonymize identifiable information, and accurately represent methodological limitations (Correct answer)
Only publish in non-peer-reviewed outlets to avoid academic scrutiny

Correct answer: Obtain appropriate consent, anonymize identifiable information, and accurately represent methodological limitations

Ethical research publication requires consent, anonymization, and honest representation of the study's scope and limitations.

Question 47: In LMA Shape, 'Shape Flow' refers to movement that:

Reflects the body's relationship to its own center, growing and shrinking (Correct answer)
Arcs through space in relation to others
Carves and molds the space around the body
Traces pathways through the general space

Correct answer: Reflects the body's relationship to its own center, growing and shrinking

Shape Flow describes the body's self-referential growing and shrinking that accompanies breathing and inner sensation.

Question 48: Which body system is often emphasized in somatic practices?

Nervous system (Correct answer)
Skeletal system
Digestive system
Immune system

Correct answer: Nervous system

Somatic practices heavily emphasize the nervous system because it is responsible for sensing, interpreting, and responding to stimuli, and for controlling movement. By working with the nervous system through mindful movement and sensory awareness, somatic methods aim to re-educate motor patterns, reduce chronic tension, and improve overall body-mind integration. The goal is to create new neural pathways for more efficient and comfortable movement.

Question 49: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

Light, Indirect, Sustained
Strong, Indirect, Sudden
Strong, Direct, Sudden (Correct answer)
Light, Direct, Sustained

Correct answer: Strong, Direct, Sudden

Punch is one of Laban's eight basic effort actions, combining Strong Weight, Direct Space, and Sudden Time.

Question 50: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

Using maximum force in that factor
Combining two motion factors simultaneously
Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum (Correct answer)
Avoiding the factor entirely

Correct answer: Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum

Indulging means yielding to or going with the passive pole of an Effort factor, such as being light, indirect, sustained, or free.

Question 51: In LMA, 'simultaneous movement' means:

All involved body parts act together at the same instant (Correct answer)
Movement that occurs in exact metric time
Two movers performing the same movement in unison
Bilateral symmetry maintained throughout a phrase

Correct answer: All involved body parts act together at the same instant

Simultaneous movement occurs when all involved body parts move at the same instant rather than passing successively through each part.

Question 52: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

Ascending, Descending, Rotating
Up/Down, Side/Side, Forward/Back (Correct answer)
Bound/Free, High/Low, Wide/Narrow
Strong/Light, Direct/Indirect, Sudden/Sustained

Correct answer: Up/Down, Side/Side, Forward/Back

Shape Flow changes occur along three dimensions: lengthening/shortening (up/down), widening/narrowing (side/side), and bulging/hollowing (forward/back).

Question 53: What is the purpose of 'phrasing marks' in Labanotation?

To show the spatial level change
To indicate rest between movements
To group movements together as a unified phrase or sequence (Correct answer)
To mark dynamic accents only

Correct answer: To group movements together as a unified phrase or sequence

Phrasing marks bracket or connect a series of symbols to indicate that they belong together as a single movement phrase.

Question 54: In movement observation, what does the term 'Transition' specifically refer to?

The movement connecting one posture or phrase to the next (Correct answer)
The peak moment of an action
The spatial path from Point A to Point B
The pause between movement phrases

Correct answer: The movement connecting one posture or phrase to the next

Transitions are how a mover moves between actions or postures, and they carry significant expressive and patterning information.

Question 55: Which aspect of Laban Movement Analysis specifically addresses HOW the mover relates to inner impulse and outer expressivity?

Body
Space
Effort (Correct answer)
Shape

Correct answer: Effort

Effort addresses the qualitative dynamics of movement — the inner attitudes that color how a movement is performed.

Question 56: Which statement best describes the relationship between Shape and Effort in LMA?

Shape is only relevant to dance and Effort only to therapy
Shape and Effort are always observed simultaneously and never independently
Shape relates to the body's form changes while Effort relates to the dynamic qualities of movement (Correct answer)
Effort always precedes Shape in any movement phrase

Correct answer: Shape relates to the body's form changes while Effort relates to the dynamic qualities of movement

Shape describes how the body's form changes in space, while Effort describes the inner dynamic qualities — they are distinct but interrelated LMA categories.

Question 57: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

Forward/Back (bulging)
Side/Side (widening) (Correct answer)
Rotational (twisting)
Up/Down (lengthening)

Correct answer: Side/Side (widening)

Spreading is the widening or opening sideways — a Shape Flow change in the side-to-side or width dimension of the body.

Question 58: Bartenieff Fundamentals emphasize 'inner connectivity' to support functional movement. Which principle describes the connection between the core and the extremities?

Head–tail
Body-half
Upper–lower
Core–distal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Core–distal

Core–distal connectivity links the navel center (core) to the extremities (fingers, toes, head, and tail).

Question 59: In somatic movement education, 'interoception' refers to:

The perception of the body's internal physiological state (Correct answer)
The mapping of external space during locomotion
The kinesthetic sense of another person's movement quality
The movement of attention outward to the environment

Correct answer: The perception of the body's internal physiological state

Interoception is the sense of the body's internal state — including organ sensations, heart rate, hunger, and visceral feelings — increasingly recognized as central to somatic practices.

Question 60: The 'Motif Notation' (or Motif Writing) differs from full Labanotation in that it:

Records only spatial pathways
Only records Effort qualities
Captures movement themes and intentions without prescribing full anatomical detail (Correct answer)
Is used exclusively for notation of sport

Correct answer: Captures movement themes and intentions without prescribing full anatomical detail

Motif Notation captures the essential movement themes, qualities, and intentions using fewer symbols, allowing more interpretive freedom than full Labanotation.

Question 61: Which Effort motion factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward space and spatial attention?

Space (Correct answer)
Flow
Time
Weight

Correct answer: Space

The Space Effort factor reflects the mover's inner attitude toward space — whether their attention is channeled directly or meanders indirectly.

Question 62: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

Movement that changes the overall body shape volumetrically
Movement that only uses bound flow
Movement within the sagittal plane only
Movement that creates a spoke-like or arc-like line from the body toward the environment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Movement that creates a spoke-like or arc-like line from the body toward the environment

Directional Movement creates spoke-like (straight) or arc-like lines that reach from the body toward the environment without shaping around it.

Question 63: Which of the following movements would most exemplify 'carving' or 'shaping'?

Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them (Correct answer)
Pointing a finger at a light switch
Performing a straight-armed punch
Breathing in deeply

Correct answer: Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them

Hugging exemplifies carving/shaping because the arms and body mold three-dimensionally around another person in the environment.

Question 64: In LMA, 'Direct' Space Effort is characterized by:

An inclusive flexible attention to multiple spatial pulls
Movement bound within the near reach space
A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner (Correct answer)
Irregular, spontaneous spatial pathways

Correct answer: A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner

Direct Space Effort (fighting quality) involves a laser-like single focus and channeled, precise movement through space.

Question 65: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

Expanding the front of the body outward
Drawing the front surface of the body inward, away from the environment (Correct answer)
Widening the arms to the side
Lengthening the spine upward

Correct answer: Drawing the front surface of the body inward, away from the environment

Hollowing is the backward/inward movement of the front body surface, creating a concave front — the opposite of bulging.

Question 66: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

Moving in the horizontal plane
Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)
Growing outward in all dimensions
Using strong effort qualities

Correct answer: Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward

Condensing Shape Flow is the inward, shrinking quality — the body narrows, shortens, and hollows, reducing its three-dimensional volume.

Question 67: Which of the following is NOT one of Laban's eight basic effort actions?

Slide
Bounce (Correct answer)
Wring
Flick

Correct answer: Bounce

The eight basic effort actions are: punch, slash, press, wring, dab, flick, glide, and float — bounce is not among them.

Question 68: What is an important principle of safe body mechanics during lifting?

Bend at the waist
Twist while lifting
Keep load close and bend knees (Correct answer)
Lift quickly with arms

Correct answer: Keep load close and bend knees

When lifting, it is crucial to keep the load as close to the body as possible to reduce leverage and strain on the back. Bending the knees and using the powerful leg muscles to lift, rather than bending at the waist, helps maintain a neutral spine and distributes the weight safely. This prevents injury to the back and promotes efficient lifting, protecting the mover's body.

Question 69: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

Rapid and explosive
Directed toward a specific point in space
Controlled, held, or restrained in its release (Correct answer)
Freely streaming without restraint

Correct answer: Controlled, held, or restrained in its release

Bound Flow is characterized by restraint, control, and resistance to flow, giving movement a held, cautious, or precise quality.

Question 70: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

Encircles or wraps around an object
Rises upward in the vertical dimension
Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment (Correct answer)
Opens outward to the side

Correct answer: Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment

Retreating is a sagittal Shape quality in which the body or body part moves backward, withdrawing from the forward-facing environment.

Question 71: In somatic re-education, 'pandiculation' (used in Hanna Somatics) differs from stretching in that it:

Passively lengthens muscles through prolonged static holds
Actively contracts then slowly releases the very muscles being retrained (Correct answer)
Uses heat application to reduce myofascial tone before movement
Uses partner resistance to increase range of motion

Correct answer: Actively contracts then slowly releases the very muscles being retrained

Pandiculation involves voluntarily contracting a muscle to its maximum, then slowly releasing it under full awareness — resetting the sensory-motor loop rather than passively stretching.

Question 72: A CMA observes a surgeon making small, controlled, precise incisions. Which Effort quality is most evident?

Sustained Time
Indirect Space
Bound Flow (Correct answer)
Free Flow

Correct answer: Bound Flow

Bound Flow is most evident in surgery because the movements are highly controlled, restrained, and could be stopped at any moment.

Question 73: A CMA using BF principles with a client who lacks core connectivity would most likely address:

The integration of the core with the rest of the body through fundamental movement repatterning (Correct answer)
Only peripheral limb strengthening
Spatial scale practice before body work
Effort variation exercises exclusively

Correct answer: The integration of the core with the rest of the body through fundamental movement repatterning

BF principles address core connectivity through fundamental movement repatterning, linking the body's center to its extremities for integrated movement.

Question 74: What aspect does 'Space' refer to in LMA?

Pulse rhythm
Emotional expression
Breathing patterns
Environmental navigation and focus (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Environmental navigation and focus

In Laban Movement Analysis, the 'Space' category describes how a mover interacts with and navigates their environment. It encompasses aspects like the pathways taken, the directions of movement, the focus of attention (e.g., direct or indirect), and the relationship of the body to the surrounding space. This category reveals how movement is organized and directed in three-dimensional space, reflecting spatial intent.

Question 75: In LMA, an 'Incomplete Effort' refers to a movement that:

Has no rhythmic structure
Uses only one or two motion factors rather than all four (Correct answer)
Is performed without weight transfer
Lacks a clear spatial pathway

Correct answer: Uses only one or two motion factors rather than all four

Incomplete Efforts engage fewer than four motion factors, creating a less fully committed dynamic quality.

Question 76: In choreology, 'general space' differs from 'personal space' in that it refers to:

The effort qualities used in movement
The space shared with others in the environment (Correct answer)
The relationship between body parts
The rhythm of the breath cycle

Correct answer: The space shared with others in the environment

General space is the shared environmental space that all movers occupy together, distinct from the personal kinesphere of each individual.

Question 77: A CMA practitioner uses Space Harmony analysis in a choreographic project and later wishes to publish the movement notation of a client's improvisation. The practitioner must:

Publish freely since movement in public space has no copyright protection
Wait five years before publishing to allow the statute of limitations to pass
Change the client's gender in the notation to anonymize it sufficiently
Obtain the client's written consent before publishing any identifiable movement material (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Obtain the client's written consent before publishing any identifiable movement material

A client's movement material remains their intellectual and personal property; written consent is required before publication.

Question 78: Which of Rudolf Laban's concepts organizes the harmonic relationships between spatial scales and movement progressions?

Choreutics (Correct answer)
Eukinetics
Shape Flow
Effort graph

Correct answer: Choreutics

Choreutics (Space Harmony) is Laban's study of the spatial forms and harmonious relationships of movement scales and paths.

Question 79: Which somatic approach uses 'Functional Integration' (FI) as its hands-on one-to-one teaching modality?

Trager Approach
Body-Mind Centering
Hakomi
Feldenkrais Method (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Feldenkrais Method

Functional Integration is the individual hands-on form of the Feldenkrais Method, where the practitioner guides the student's movement through gentle touch to suggest new neurological patterns.

Question 80: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'inner-outer' connectivity relates to:

Movement going from the kinesphere inward
The breathing cycle in and out
The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression (Correct answer)
Effort flow from bound to free

Correct answer: The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression

Inner-outer connectivity addresses the integration of deep intrinsic muscles with the body's outer layers and external movement expression.

Question 81: The Space Harmony concept of 'transverse' planes refers to movements that:

Follow the sagittal midline of the body
Move strictly along the vertical axis
Cut across the body from side to side horizontally
Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane

Transverse movements combine two dimensions at once, creating tilted, oblique planes that rotate around the body's center.

Question 82: Which category of LMA analyzes movement dynamics like flow and weight?

Space
Effort (Correct answer)
Body
Shape

Correct answer: Effort

The Effort category in Laban Movement Analysis specifically addresses the dynamic qualities of movement, focusing on the inner intention and expressive aspects of *how* a movement is performed. It includes factors such as Weight (strong/light), Flow (bound/free), Time (sudden/sustained), and Space (direct/indirect). These factors describe the qualitative characteristics of movement dynamics, revealing the mover's inner attitude.

Question 83: In somatic practices, 'proprioception' is best described as:

The sense of body position and movement arising from muscles, tendons, and joints (Correct answer)
The emotional awareness of physical sensations
The auditory feedback used in voice-based movement therapy
The visual perception of the body's location in space

Correct answer: The sense of body position and movement arising from muscles, tendons, and joints

Proprioception is the sensory system providing information about body position, movement, and force through receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints.

Question 84: If a CMA practitioner experiences personal burnout that begins to affect the quality of their movement observations, the ethical response is to:

Switch to purely theoretical work without disclosing the reason to clients
Increase their caseload to build resilience through challenge
Conceal the burnout from supervisors to maintain professional credibility
Seek personal support, reduce caseload if necessary, and consult a supervisor to protect client welfare (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Seek personal support, reduce caseload if necessary, and consult a supervisor to protect client welfare

Self-care and self-monitoring are ethical obligations because compromised practitioner wellbeing directly risks client welfare.

Question 85: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Space
Time
Flow
Weight (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Weight

The Weight Effort factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward gravity and physical impact, ranging from strong to light.

Question 86: In the Trager Approach, the quality practitioners cultivate internally before and during a session is called:

Hook-up (Correct answer)
Mindfulness
Grounding
Presence

Correct answer: Hook-up

Milton Trager called the meditative, receptive internal state of the practitioner 'hook-up' — a felt connection to a larger field of energy that informs the quality of touch and movement.

Question 87: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

Float/Punch, Glide/Slash, Wring/Dab, Press/Flick
Peripheral/Central, Straight/Curved, Fast/Slow, Open/Closed
Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing (Correct answer)
High/Low, Wide/Narrow, Far/Near, Strong/Light

Correct answer: Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing

The four pairs of planar Shape qualities are Rising/Sinking (vertical), Spreading/Enclosing (horizontal), and Advancing/Retreating (sagittal), plus Growing/Condensing overall.

Question 88: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

The personal space bubble surrounding the mover's reach (Correct answer)
The rhythmic pattern of locomotion
The emotional quality of a movement phrase
The pathway a body part traces through space

Correct answer: The personal space bubble surrounding the mover's reach

The kinesphere is the sphere of personal space that surrounds the mover and extends to the furthest reach of the limbs.

Question 89: A CMA working in a corporate wellness setting is asked by management to provide individual employee movement profiles without the employees' knowledge. The ethical response is to:

Provide anonymized group data instead without disclosing the limitation
Comply because management has authority over the workplace
Refuse, as conducting covert assessments violates professional ethics (Correct answer)
Complete the assessment but charge double the fee as compensation

Correct answer: Refuse, as conducting covert assessments violates professional ethics

Covert assessment of individuals without their consent is a fundamental violation of professional ethics in movement analysis.

Question 90: How does observing body mechanics assist in movement analysis?

Focus only on artistic expression
Record sound patterns
Increase exercise speed
Highlight tension and inefficiency (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Highlight tension and inefficiency

Observing body mechanics allows a movement analyst to identify areas of tension, compensatory movements, and inefficient patterns that may lead to discomfort or injury. By recognizing these issues, the analyst can pinpoint specific areas where movement could be improved for greater ease, efficiency, and overall well-being. This observation is key for developing effective corrective strategies and enhancing functional movement.

Question 91: Which Effort Motion Factor is most associated with a mover's relationship to TIME?

Flow Effort (Free vs. Bound)
Space Effort (Direct vs. Indirect)
Weight Effort (Strong vs. Light)
Time Effort (Sustained vs. Sudden) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Time Effort (Sustained vs. Sudden)

The Time Effort Motion Factor reflects the mover's inner attitude toward urgency or deliberateness, manifesting as Sudden or Sustained quality.

Question 92: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Space (Correct answer)
Flow
Time
Weight

Correct answer: Space

The Passion Drive combines Weight, Time, and Flow while omitting Space, giving it an intense, emotionally driven quality without spatial focus.

Question 93: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

Strong, Direct, Sudden
Light, Indirect, Sustained (Correct answer)
Strong, Indirect, Sustained
Light, Direct, Sustained

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

Float combines Light Weight, Indirect Space, and Sustained Time, creating a buoyant, dreamy, and wandering quality.

Question 94: Which movement initiation source originates at the tips of the limbs and travels inward toward the body's center?

Central initiation
Middle initiation
Distal initiation (Correct answer)
Proximal initiation

Correct answer: Distal initiation

Distal initiation begins at the extremities—hands, feet, or head—and ripples inward toward the body's core.

Question 95: The 'Spell Drive' in Effort theory combines:

Space, Weight, Flow (omits Time)
Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight) (Correct answer)
Space, Weight, Time (omits Flow)
Weight, Time, Flow (omits Space)

Correct answer: Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight)

The Spell Drive combines Space, Time, and Flow while omitting Weight, creating a hypnotic, dream-like, otherworldly quality.

Question 96: In LMA, 'Monolinear' Effort refers to a sequence where:

No motion factors are present
All four motion factors are fully engaged
One Effort quality changes while others remain neutral or absent (Correct answer)
Two Effort qualities change simultaneously

Correct answer: One Effort quality changes while others remain neutral or absent

Monolinear Effort sequences involve one motion factor changing or emerging at a time while others are not actively engaged.

Question 97: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

Requires deliberate muscular effort to continue
Stays bound to one location
Cannot easily be stopped once initiated (Correct answer)
Uses strong weight throughout

Correct answer: Cannot easily be stopped once initiated

Free Flow is characterized by an unrestrained, ongoing quality — the movement has momentum that makes it difficult to stop abruptly.

Question 98: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'Thigh Lift' is a basic exercise primarily intended to develop:

Breath-movement coordination in the hands
Eye-head sequencing patterns
Core-distal connectivity and inner unit activation (Correct answer)
Upper extremity isolation

Correct answer: Core-distal connectivity and inner unit activation

Thigh Lift activates the inner core and establishes proximal–distal connectivity between the pelvis and lower limbs.

Question 99: The BF principle of 'dynamic alignment' means:

Holding the spine rigid during exercise
Static standing in correct posture
Lining up body parts in a vertical plumb line
The ongoing, active process of organizing the body efficiently during movement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The ongoing, active process of organizing the body efficiently during movement

Dynamic alignment is not a static position but an ongoing process of actively organizing the body for efficient, integrated movement.

Question 100: Maintaining competence as a professional obligation for CMAs includes:

Only attending training organized by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute
Completing the initial CMA certification and then practicing independently without further training
Engaging in ongoing professional development, supervision, and staying current with developments in the field (Correct answer)
Limiting practice to the exact techniques studied in initial certification coursework

Correct answer: Engaging in ongoing professional development, supervision, and staying current with developments in the field

Professional competence is a continuing obligation that requires ongoing education, supervision, and engagement with evolving knowledge.

Question 101: The principle of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

Holding the breath during exertion
Breathing only through the nose
The use of the breath cycle to initiate and support movement (Correct answer)
Counting breaths per minute

Correct answer: The use of the breath cycle to initiate and support movement

Breath support in BF uses the natural inhale-exhale cycle as the foundation for movement initiation, organization, and release.

Question 102: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

Musical tempo applied to movement
The number of times an action repeats
The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time (Correct answer)
The spatial pattern traced by the feet

Correct answer: The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time

Effort rhythm describes how Effort qualities flow, change, and pattern themselves across time in a mover's ongoing movement sequence.

Certified Movement Analyst (CMA)

The CMA certification, awarded by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS), assesses professional competency in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) across four core domains: Body, Effort, Shape, and Space. Candidates must demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and applied movement observation skills.

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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