Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

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

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 2: The developmental movement pattern called 'homolateral' involves:

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

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 3: Which of the following best describes the 'peripheral' spatial pathway?

Moving through the center of the body
Moving diagonally through space
Moving in a straight vertical line
Moving along the outer edge of the kinesphere (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Moving along the outer edge of the kinesphere

Peripheral pathways trace along the surface or outer boundary of the kinesphere, following its edges rather than passing through the center.

Question 4: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

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

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 5: Which term describes the LMA observation that movement qualities occur in pairs of opposing polarities?

Motion factors duality
Effort gradation
Monochromy
Polarities principle (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Polarities principle

Each Effort motion factor exists on a continuum between two polar opposites (e.g., Light vs. Strong, Sudden vs. Sustained).

Question 6: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

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

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

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

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

Flow
Space
Time
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 9: What is 'Body' in Laban Movement Analysis?

Music tempo
Parts moving and coordination (Correct answer)
Breathing rhythm
Mental focus

Correct answer: Parts moving and coordination

In Laban Movement Analysis, the 'Body' category describes *what* is moving and how the body parts relate to each other. It includes aspects like connectivity (e.g., core-distal, head-tail), sequencing of movement, and the initiation of movement from different body parts. This category helps to understand the structural and anatomical aspects of movement organization and coordination.

Question 10: Somatic movement education differs from traditional physical rehabilitation primarily in that it:

Focuses exclusively on isolated muscle strengthening
Centers the client's subjective sensory experience as the primary agent of change (Correct answer)
Requires medical diagnosis before initiating any movement work
Uses evidence-based protocols and measurable outcomes exclusively

Correct answer: Centers the client's subjective sensory experience as the primary agent of change

Somatic education differs from rehabilitation in centering the learner's own internal sensory awareness as the mechanism of change, rather than externally correcting or strengthening the body.

Question 11: Which scale in Space Harmony moves through the six points of the dimensional cross?

Dimensional scale (Correct answer)
A-scale
B-scale
Diagonal scale

Correct answer: Dimensional scale

The Dimensional scale moves through the six cardinal points of the three-dimensional cross: high, deep, right, left, forward, and backward.

Question 12: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

Movement within the sagittal plane only
Movement that changes the overall body shape volumetrically
Movement that only uses bound flow
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 13: A CMA is approached to analyze movement footage from a deceased individual. The ethical considerations include:

No ethical considerations apply since the subject is deceased
Respecting the legacy and potential impact on surviving family members, and seeking appropriate permissions (Correct answer)
Limiting analysis only to Weight effort to minimize interpretive overreach
Publishing the analysis immediately to contribute to historical movement research

Correct answer: Respecting the legacy and potential impact on surviving family members, and seeking appropriate permissions

Ethical responsibilities extend to deceased individuals' legacies and the potential impact of analysis on surviving family members and communities.

Question 14: Which phase of a movement phrase typically contains the moment of peak exertion or maximum expression?

Attack (Afraction) (Correct answer)
Preparation
Recovery
Transition

Correct answer: Attack (Afraction)

The attack or afraction phase is the accent of a movement phrase where maximum effort or expression is reached.

Question 15: 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 16: Which Shape mode is most self-referential and least related to the external environment?

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

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

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

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 18: In LMA, 'simultaneous movement' means:

Movement that occurs in exact metric time
Two movers performing the same movement in unison
All involved body parts act together at the same instant (Correct answer)
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 19: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

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

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 20: Which body position best maintains good alignment?

Exaggerated arch in back
Neutral spine and relaxed shoulders (Correct answer)
Slouched posture
Forward-leaning stance

Correct answer: Neutral spine and relaxed shoulders

Maintaining a neutral spine, where the natural curves of the back are preserved, along with relaxed shoulders, is crucial for good body alignment. This position minimizes stress on joints and muscles, promotes efficient movement, and reduces the risk of injury. It allows the body to function optimally without unnecessary tension or compression, supporting overall musculoskeletal health.

Question 21: Which spatial form in Laban's Space Harmony traces paths through all three dimensions simultaneously?

Transversal
Diagonal (Correct answer)
Planar drive
Dimensional cross

Correct answer: Diagonal

Diagonals in Space Harmony move through all three spatial dimensions—high/low, right/left, forward/back—simultaneously.

Question 22: When recognizing a 'Postural' movement (as opposed to a 'Gestural' movement), what is the key distinguishing feature?

Only the limbs are involved
The whole body participates in the movement quality (Correct answer)
The movement follows a spatial pathway
The movement involves weight transfer

Correct answer: The whole body participates in the movement quality

Postural movement involves the whole body sharing the same movement quality, whereas Gesture involves partial body movement without whole-body support.

Question 23: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

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

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 24: Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF) were developed primarily to:

Standardize theatrical movement vocabulary
Prescribe exercises for athletic performance
Create a dance notation system
Facilitate efficient, expressive, and healthy movement by integrating body connectivity (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Facilitate efficient, expressive, and healthy movement by integrating body connectivity

Bartenieff Fundamentals are a set of movement principles and exercises developed by Irmgard Bartenieff to support healthy, integrated, and expressive movement.

Question 25: Which Effort motion factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward space and spatial attention?

Time
Flow
Space (Correct answer)
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 26: In observing Effort, a CMA would identify 'indirect' Space Effort in a mover who:

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

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 27: Which action reflects professionalism in client interactions?

Overstepping boundaries
Making personal judgments
Ignoring client preferences
Maintaining clear boundaries and respect (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Maintaining clear boundaries and respect

Professionalism in client interactions is demonstrated by consistently maintaining clear boundaries and showing profound respect. This involves separating personal feelings from professional duties, avoiding dual relationships, and ensuring all communication and actions are appropriate and client-focused. Such conduct builds trust, fosters a safe environment, and ensures the effectiveness of the professional relationship.

Question 28: In Body organization, 'breath support' in LMA primarily relates to which developmental pattern?

Cellular (Correct answer)
Homologous
Cross-lateral
Spinal

Correct answer: Cellular

Cellular breath support is the earliest developmental pattern, rooted in the basic cellular pulsation of inhale and exhale.

Question 29: What is a benefit of somatic movement practices?

Improved posture and reduced tension (Correct answer)
Decreased mindfulness
Higher energy expenditure
Increased workout time

Correct answer: Improved posture and reduced tension

A significant benefit of somatic movement practices is improved posture and reduced tension. By guiding individuals to become more aware of their habitual movement patterns and areas of chronic muscular effort, these practices facilitate the release of unnecessary tension and promote more balanced body organization. This often leads to greater ease in movement, reduced physical discomfort, and a more aligned posture.

Question 30: A child repeatedly organizes movement around upper-lower body split, using both arms together and both legs together. Which Body connectivity pattern is dominant?

Homologous (Correct answer)
Core-distal
Contralateral
Homolateral

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 31: Which system records the pathways and direction of movements?

Spatial intent and kinesphere (Correct answer)
Eye movement tracking
Breathing rhythm charts
Pulse monitoring

Correct answer: Spatial intent and kinesphere

In Laban Movement Analysis, the concept of 'Spatial intent' and the 'kinesphere' are used to describe and record the pathways and directions of movements. The kinesphere refers to the personal space surrounding the body that can be reached by movement, while spatial intent describes the specific directions and dimensions of movement within that space. This helps analyze how movement is organized in relation to the environment.

Question 32: The 'Spell Drive' in Effort theory combines:

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

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

Flick
Wring
Bounce (Correct answer)
Slide

Correct answer: Bounce

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

Question 34: Which Effort state combines Strong Weight and Direct Space qualities?

Awake State (Correct answer)
Dream State
Near State
Remote State

Correct answer: Awake State

The Awake State combines the sensing and thinking motion factors—Weight and Space—in an alert, engaged quality.

Question 35: Why is continued education important for professionals?

To compete with colleagues
To replace older methods quickly
To stay current and uphold ethics (Correct answer)
For financial gain

Correct answer: To stay current and uphold ethics

Continued education is essential for professionals to remain competent and relevant in their evolving fields. It ensures they stay current with the latest research, techniques, and best practices, allowing them to provide the highest quality of service. This ongoing learning also reinforces ethical practice by ensuring professionals apply up-to-date, evidence-based methods responsibly and effectively.

Question 36: In Labanotation, the center vertical line of the staff represents:

The body's center (spinal axis) (Correct answer)
The floor level
The forward direction
The breath rhythm

Correct answer: The body's center (spinal axis)

The center line of the Labanotation staff represents the central axis of the body, with columns on each side representing body parts symmetrically.

Question 37: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

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

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 38: In Space Harmony, what term describes the geometric spatial forms that connect points in the kinesphere?

Dimensional scales
Spatial pulls
Crystalline forms (Correct answer)
Effort actions

Correct answer: Crystalline forms

Crystalline forms are the geometric structures in Space Harmony that connect points within the kinesphere, forming scales and pathways.

Question 39: In choreology, 'general space' differs from 'personal space' in that it refers to:

The space shared with others in the environment (Correct answer)
The relationship between body parts
The effort qualities used in movement
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 40: In Laban's spatial theory, 'deflection' means:

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

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

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

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

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

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 43: 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 44: A CMA observes a pattern where the mover's movement consistently emphasizes the Door Plane (vertical plane). Which activities most typically organize around this plane?

Diagonal spreading across the body
Forward and backward reaching
Rising and sinking, side-to-side gestures (Correct answer)
Rotating and spiraling

Correct answer: Rising and sinking, side-to-side gestures

The Door (Vertical) Plane organizes up-down and side-to-side movement, like a door swinging in place.

Question 45: The 'yielding-pushing-reaching-pulling-grasping' sequence in developmental movement re-education (as used in BMC) is organized around which developmental principle?

Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action (Correct answer)
Strength precedes flexibility in all motor learning
Movements progress from distal to proximal organization
Actions follow a cephalocaudal (head-to-tail) developmental progression

Correct answer: Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action

In BMC's developmental framework, each action in the sequence (yield→push→reach→pull→grasp) requires the neurological establishment of the previous one to function optimally.

Question 46: How can pattern recognition benefit a movement analyst?

Predict tendencies and suggest strategies (Correct answer)
Reinforce old habits
Limit movements
Ignore minor motions

Correct answer: Predict tendencies and suggest strategies

Pattern recognition allows a movement analyst to identify habitual ways of moving, both functional and dysfunctional. By understanding these recurring patterns, the analyst can predict an individual's movement tendencies and potential challenges. This insight is crucial for developing targeted interventions and suggesting effective strategies to improve movement efficiency, prevent injury, or enhance performance.

Question 47: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

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

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 48: Which of the following is an example of a 'sagittal' movement in LMA Space Harmony?

Lifting and lowering the shoulders
Reaching forward and pulling back (Correct answer)
Swinging the arms side to side
Rotating the torso left and right

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

Sagittal movements travel forward and backward along the anterior–posterior axis of the body.

Question 49: What is a basic tool used for movement observation?

Medical diagnosis chart
Dance choreography notes
Music theory sheet
Laban Movement Analysis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Laban Movement Analysis

Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) is a widely recognized and comprehensive system specifically designed for observing, describing, and interpreting human movement. It provides a structured framework with categories like Body, Effort, Shape, and Space, enabling analysts to systematically break down and understand the complexities of movement. LMA is a foundational tool for movement analysts across various disciplines.

Question 50: Which quality best defines 'bound flow'?

Carefree and loose
Fast and jerky
Controlled and contained (Correct answer)
Heavy and abrupt

Correct answer: Controlled and contained

In Laban Movement Analysis, 'bound flow' is an Effort quality characterized by a sense of control, containment, and resistance. Movements with bound flow often appear careful, deliberate, and held back, as if energy is being continuously restrained. This contrasts with 'free flow,' which is released and unrestrained, highlighting the internal dynamic of the movement.

Question 51: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

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

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

Middle initiation
Central 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 53: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'upper-lower' connectivity refers to:

Effort use in the upper extremities only
Breath flow from upper lungs to lower lungs
The differentiated yet coordinated functioning of the upper and lower halves of the body (Correct answer)
The relationship between the head and feet

Correct answer: The differentiated yet coordinated functioning of the upper and lower halves of the body

Upper-lower connectivity addresses the differentiation and integration of the body above and below the pelvic girdle, supporting complex locomotion and reach.

Question 54: What does a 'hold sign' in Labanotation indicate?

The body part remains still in its current position (Correct answer)
An increase in Effort intensity
A jump or elevation
Breath support is required

Correct answer: The body part remains still in its current position

A hold sign in Labanotation indicates that the body part maintains its current position without moving for the duration indicated.

Question 55: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

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

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 56: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

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

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.

Question 57: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

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

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

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

Question 58: When adapting Laban Movement Analysis for use with neurodivergent clients, ethical practice requires the CMA to:

Apply standard LMA frameworks without modification to maintain consistency
Modify observation and communication approaches to accommodate diverse movement styles without pathologizing difference (Correct answer)
Exclude neurodivergent clients from movement analysis as data may be unreliable
Focus solely on Body category observations to simplify the process

Correct answer: Modify observation and communication approaches to accommodate diverse movement styles without pathologizing difference

Ethical competency includes adapting professional practice to serve diverse populations without imposing a neurotypical normative bias.

Question 59: Which developmental movement pattern, central to BMC and Bartenieff work, involves simultaneous movement of both arms and both legs?

Radial
Contralateral
Homolateral
Homologous (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Homologous

Homologous movement involves the upper or lower halves of the body moving simultaneously and symmetrically, as seen in a frog jump or both arms reaching overhead together.

Question 60: A CMA observer notices a dancer whose trunk consistently narrows and closes toward the midline during transitions. Which Shape category best describes this recurring pattern?

Shaping — enclosing
Shape Flow — closing (Correct answer)
Carving — hollowing
Directional movement — across

Correct answer: Shape Flow — closing

Shape Flow describes self-referential body shape changes such as narrowing/widening or closing/opening relative to the body's own midline.

Question 61: Which of the following best describes the LMA concept of 'Phrase'?

A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)
A fixed sequence of prescribed dance steps
A single isolated movement of one body part
The overall theme of a choreographic work

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

A movement phrase is a unit of movement with recognizable initiation, development, and conclusion, analogous to a sentence in language.

Question 62: 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 63: The concept of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

How the breath cycle initiates and organizes the quality and expression of movement (Correct answer)
The use of audible exhales as a deliberate performance element
Techniques for controlling breathing rate during aerobic exercise
Respiratory therapy applications for movement rehabilitation clients

Correct answer: How the breath cycle initiates and organizes the quality and expression of movement

Breath support in BF addresses how the natural breath cycle underpins movement initiation, organization, and expressive quality.

Question 64: Which aspect of Laban Movement Analysis specifically addresses HOW the mover relates to inner impulse and outer expressivity?

Body
Effort (Correct answer)
Space
Shape

Correct answer: Effort

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

Question 65: Which of Rudolf Laban's concepts organizes the harmonic relationships between spatial scales and movement progressions?

Effort graph
Choreutics (Correct answer)
Shape Flow
Eukinetics

Correct answer: Choreutics

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

Question 66: A CMA observes a surgeon making small, controlled, precise incisions. Which Effort quality is most evident?

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

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 67: Shape Flow Support refers to:

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

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

Flow
Time
Space (Correct answer)
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 69: A CMA observing a dancer whose movement constantly shifts spatial pathways and explores multiple directions simultaneously would likely note which Space Effort quality?

Bound
Indirect (Flexible) (Correct answer)
Sustained
Direct

Correct answer: Indirect (Flexible)

Indirect (Flexible) Space Effort reflects a multi-focused, meandering attention to space rather than a single channeled direction.

Question 70: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

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

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

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

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 72: The concept of 'Affordances of Space' in LMA refers to:

The qualities and action possibilities offered by specific spatial directions or tensions (Correct answer)
The body's maximum physical reach potential
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 73: In LMA, 'proximal initiation' means a movement begins at:

The cranium or coccyx endpoints of the spine
The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches (Correct answer)
The midpoint of a limb such as the elbow or knee
The fingertips, toes, or top of the head

Correct answer: The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches

Proximal initiation begins at the joint nearest the body's core—shoulder or hip—and travels outward toward the distal end.

Question 74: Body-Half (homolateral) connectivity pattern emphasizes the relationship between:

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

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

Shape is only relevant to dance and Effort only to therapy
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
Shape and Effort are always observed simultaneously and never independently

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 76: Which Effort quality describes movement characterized by gradual, sustained changes in speed?

Sudden
Sustained (Correct answer)
Indirect
Strong

Correct answer: Sustained

The Time Effort quality of Sustained describes movement that unfolds slowly and lingers, as opposed to the sudden fighting quality.

Question 77: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

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

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 78: Irmgard Bartenieff integrated Laban's movement theory with which other discipline to develop Bartenieff Fundamentals?

Physical therapy and neurodevelopmental principles (Correct answer)
Yoga and Ayurveda
Ballet technique and Pilates
Sports science and biomechanics

Correct answer: Physical therapy and neurodevelopmental principles

Bartenieff combined Laban's movement analysis with her training and practice in physical therapy and neurodevelopmental approaches.

Question 79: In LMA Shape, 'Shape Flow' refers to movement that:

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

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 80: 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
Effort-Shape affinity or integration (Correct answer)
Spatial-effort harmony
Drive expression

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

Four
Two
One
Three (Correct answer)

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

Move strictly along the vertical axis
Cut across the body from side to side horizontally
Follow the sagittal midline of the body
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 83: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Space
Flow
Time (Correct answer)
Weight

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 84: How does the Body category of LMA differ from the Effort category?

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

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 85: 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?

Contralateral cross-lateral reaching into opposite half-space (Correct answer)
Sagittal advancing gesture
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 86: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

Strong, Direct, Sudden (Correct answer)
Light, Indirect, Sustained
Strong, Indirect, Sudden
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 87: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

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

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 88: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

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

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 89: Why are ethical standards important in movement analysis?

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

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 90: The LMA Effort quality 'Free Flow' is best described as movement that is:

Quick and percussive in its timing
Heavy and grounded in its weight quality
Bound and controlled, with ongoing readiness to stop
Ongoing and difficult to stop midway (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ongoing and difficult to stop midway

Free Flow is the indulging Flow quality—movement that continues with ease and is hard to arrest once initiated.

Question 91: In assessing developmental movement, a CMA notes a child's inability to use carving/shaping. This suggests a deficit in:

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

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 92: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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 93: In Labanotation, the column immediately to the right of the center line typically records movement for:

The right arm
The right leg (Correct answer)
The left leg
The head

Correct answer: The right leg

The column immediately to the right of the center line records the right leg's movement, mirroring the body's layout on the staff.

Question 94: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

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

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 95: What does pattern observation allow in therapy settings?

Focus only on physical strength
Ignore habitual movements
Prescribe generic exercises
Tailor interventions to tendencies (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tailor interventions to tendencies

In therapy settings, observing and recognizing movement patterns allows a movement analyst to identify an individual's specific habitual movements, compensatory strategies, or areas of restriction. This detailed understanding enables the therapist to tailor interventions precisely to the client's unique tendencies and needs. Personalized interventions are more effective in addressing underlying issues and promoting healthier movement.

Question 96: 'Core-distal' connectivity in Bartenieff Fundamentals describes:

The connection between feet and hands only
Isolating the distal limbs from the trunk
Simultaneous activation linking the body's core to its extremities (Correct answer)
The use of only the core muscles without limb involvement

Correct answer: Simultaneous activation linking the body's core to its extremities

Core-distal connectivity is the simultaneous, integrated activation linking the body's center (core) with its extremities (distal), like a starfish pattern.

Question 97: When applying somatic principles to movement re-education with a client experiencing chronic back pain, which approach would be most consistent with a somatic framework?

Apply passive stretching to the lumbar fascia
Guide the client to notice internal sensations and habitual holding patterns before introducing movement (Correct answer)
Use ultrasound to reduce inflammation before movement
Prescribe strengthening exercises targeting the erector spinae

Correct answer: Guide the client to notice internal sensations and habitual holding patterns before introducing movement

Somatic re-education prioritizes increasing the client's internal awareness of habitual patterns so the nervous system can self-organize change, rather than imposing external corrections.

Question 98: In LMA, 'Monolinear' Effort refers to a sequence where:

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

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

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

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

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

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 101: Somatic educator Thomas Hanna identified three reflexive stress patterns. Which reflex relates to the 'startle response' that causes the front of the body to contract?

The Green Light Reflex
The Red Light Reflex (Correct answer)
The Trauma Reflex
The Landau Reaction

Correct answer: The Red Light Reflex

Hanna's Red Light Reflex is the withdrawal response triggered by fear or stress, causing flexion of the front body — hunched shoulders, contracted abdomen, and forward head.

Question 102: In LMA terminology, what is the 'Kinesphere'?

The entire room or performance space
The space occupied by a group of movers
The optimal zone for efficient locomotion
The sphere of space reachable without taking a step (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The sphere of space reachable without taking a step

The Kinesphere is the personal space bubble surrounding a mover — all the space reachable by extending limbs without shifting the base.

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%

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