Definition

Proper noun A Hungarian-born dancer, choreographer, and movement theorist. He is most famous for creating a system for analyzing and recording human movement, which had a profound influence on modern dance and other fields.

Usage

This term is used as a proper name to refer to the historical figure and his work. It is typically used in contexts related to dance, choreography, movement analysis, and dance notation.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The dance historian gave a lecture on the influence of Rudolph Laban on 20th-century performance.
  • Rudolph Laban's theories extend beyond dance into areas like education and therapy.
  • Many contemporary choreographers still study the principles established by Rudolph Laban.

Advanced Usage

• The name is often used attributively to describe concepts, systems, or institutions derived from his work.
  • She is a certified Laban movement analyst.
  • The university offers a course in Laban Studies.

Variants and Related Words

• Labanotation (noun): The system of dance notation invented by Rudolph Laban for recording movement on paper.
  • The choreographer used Labanotation to preserve the complex piece.
• Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) (noun): A framework and language for describing, visualizing, interpreting, and documenting human movement, developed from his theories.
  • The actor used Laban Movement Analysis to develop her character's physicality.

Synonyms

• Choreographer
• Movement theorist
• Dance notator

Related Terms and Concepts

• Effort (in LMA): One of the major components of Laban Movement Analysis, describing the dynamic quality of movement (e.g., light vs. strong, direct vs. indirect).
• Space Harmony (in LMA): A concept developed by Laban concerning the structure of the space around the body and pathways of movement through it.
• Kinetography Laban: Another term for Labanotation.

Noun

1. Hungarian choreographer who developed Labanotation (1879-1958)