Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: 'Grounding' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

Electrical safety procedures for movers
Establishing an active, dynamic relationship with the support surface through the body's weight (Correct answer)
A metaphor for emotional stability
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 2: 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
Carving — hollowing
Directional movement — across
Shape Flow — closing (Correct answer)

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 3: A 'relationship bow' in Labanotation indicates:

A spatial pathway on the floor
The level of effort applied
The arc shape of a movement
That two body parts or two performers are relating or connected in movement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: That two body parts or two performers are relating or connected in movement

A relationship bow links two symbols or two staff positions to indicate that body parts or performers are in a specific movement relationship with each other.

Question 4: Which observational tool in LMA helps a CMA systematically record the frequency and distribution of Effort qualities over a movement session?

Labanotation score
Kinesphere map
Space Harmony scale notation
Effort Graph or Effort Profile (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Effort Graph or Effort Profile

An Effort Profile or Effort Graph charts how often each Effort quality appears, revealing habitual preferences and blind spots.

Question 5: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

Growing outward in all dimensions
Moving in the horizontal plane
Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)
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 6: Which scenario BEST illustrates a violation of the ethical principle of fidelity in CMA practice?

A CMA declines to work with a client whose needs exceed their expertise
A CMA charges a sliding-scale fee to accommodate a client's financial situation
A CMA promises to keep movement observations confidential but shares them without consent (Correct answer)
A CMA refers a client to a dance therapist for deeper emotional work

Correct answer: A CMA promises to keep movement observations confidential but shares them without consent

Fidelity requires keeping commitments and promises; breaking a confidentiality promise violates this core professional obligation.

Question 7: An 'Effort drive' in LMA combines how many Effort motion factors?

One
Four
Two
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 8: Which type of movement phrasing involves a sharp, sudden beginning that then gradually decays in intensity?

Swing phrasing
Impulsive phrasing (Correct answer)
Sustained phrasing
Impactive phrasing

Correct answer: Impulsive phrasing

Impulsive phrasing begins with a sudden accent and then gradually decreases in intensity, like a ball thrown and then decelerating.

Question 9: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, the 'Body Half' pattern develops the mover's ability to:

Articulate one side of the body independently from the other (Correct answer)
Coordinate eye and head movement with spinal sequences
Connect breath to distal movement
Move the upper and lower body simultaneously

Correct answer: Articulate one side of the body independently from the other

The Body Half developmental pattern establishes left–right differentiation by activating one side of the body at a time.

Question 10: How does observing body mechanics assist in movement analysis?

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

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 11: What does a 'hold sign' in Labanotation indicate?

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

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

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
Highly advanced spatial intelligence

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

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

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

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

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 15: 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 rhythm of the breath cycle
The relationship between body parts

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 16: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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

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

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

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

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 19: Confidentiality in CMA practice requires that client movement profiles:

Be shared with any other health professional the client has ever seen
Be protected and shared only with explicit client consent or as required by law (Correct answer)
Be disclosed to the client's employer upon request
Be posted anonymously in professional forums for peer feedback

Correct answer: Be protected and shared only with explicit client consent or as required by law

Client movement data carries the same confidentiality obligations as other professional health-related information.

Question 20: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Flow
Weight (Correct answer)
Space
Time

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 21: When using Effort qualities in movement observation for clinical or therapeutic purposes, a CMA must ensure that:

Clients provide informed consent before movement analysis is used in treatment planning (Correct answer)
Only the Space effort quality is assessed to avoid bias
Observations are kept entirely subjective and untranscribed
Movement profiles are shared freely among all staff without consent

Correct answer: Clients provide informed consent before movement analysis is used in treatment planning

Informed consent is a foundational ethical requirement when using movement analysis data in clinical or therapeutic decision-making.

Question 22: What aspect does 'Space' refer to in LMA?

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

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

The number of times an action repeats
Musical tempo applied to movement
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.

Question 24: Which phase of a movement phrase typically contains the moment of peak exertion or maximum expression?

Recovery
Attack (Afraction) (Correct answer)
Transition
Preparation

Correct answer: Attack (Afraction)

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

Question 25: In Body-Mind Centering (BMC), the concept of 'cellular breathing' refers to:

CO2 exchange measured during aerobic exercise
The rhythmic pulsation and fluid exchange occurring at the cellular level (Correct answer)
Breath-hold intervals used in somatic meditation
Diaphragmatic breathing techniques used in yoga

Correct answer: The rhythmic pulsation and fluid exchange occurring at the cellular level

Cellular breathing in BMC describes the inherent rhythmic movement of cells — their expansion, contraction, and fluid exchange — as a foundation of embodied awareness.

Question 26: Which Effort motion factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward space and spatial attention?

Flow
Weight
Time
Space (Correct answer)

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

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

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 28: 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 number of square feet available to a performer
The weight distribution across different spatial levels
The body's maximum physical reach potential

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

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

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 30: 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)
Rotating the torso left and right
Swinging the arms side to side

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

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

Question 31: In LMA, 'proximal initiation' means a movement begins at:

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

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 32: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

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

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 33: The three planes of movement in Space Harmony are:

Sagittal, Frontal, Horizontal (Correct answer)
Axial, Peripheral, Central
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Vertical, Lateral, Diagonal

Correct answer: Sagittal, Frontal, Horizontal

The three planes are the Sagittal (wheel), Frontal (door), and Horizontal (table) planes, each defined by two of the three spatial dimensions.

Question 34: Which developmental movement pattern involves the body folding and unfolding around a transverse axis?

Contralateral
Spinal (Correct answer)
Homologous
Homolateral

Correct answer: Spinal

Spinal patterning involves the body flexing and extending around its longitudinal or transverse axes, like a worm or snake undulating.

Question 35: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

Stays bound to one location
Cannot easily be stopped once initiated (Correct answer)
Uses strong weight throughout
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 36: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center (Correct answer)
Collapsing inward toward the core
Narrowing and shortening of the body
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 37: Which LMA concept describes the simultaneous occurrence of Effort changes throughout the whole body rather than in isolated body parts?

Whole-body Effort phrasing (Correct answer)
Distal Effort expression
Segmental effort
Partial body actuation

Correct answer: Whole-body Effort phrasing

Whole-body Effort phrasing indicates that Effort qualities suffuse the entire soma simultaneously, reflecting full-body expressive commitment.

Question 38: Which of the following describes 'head-tail' connectivity in developmental movement?

The connection between breath and effort
The connection between the skull and the coccyx through the full spine (Correct answer)
Upper-lower body differentiation
The relationship between the hands and feet

Correct answer: The connection between the skull and the coccyx through the full spine

Head-tail connectivity links the entire spine from the cranium (head) to the coccyx (tail), supporting spinal integration and sequencing.

Question 39: Why is movement observation important in analysis?

To identify patterns and functionality (Correct answer)
To imitate movements
To create dance routines
To limit movement choices

Correct answer: To identify patterns and functionality

Movement observation is fundamental for a Certified Movement Analyst because it allows them to systematically perceive and interpret how individuals move. By carefully watching, analysts can identify recurring patterns, understand the underlying functionality of movements, and assess their efficiency or potential for dysfunction. This detailed insight forms the basis for effective analysis and intervention strategies.

Question 40: What is the primary purpose of practicing spatial scales in CMA training?

To memorize notation symbols
To improve cardiovascular endurance
To internalize the geometry of the kinesphere and develop spatial intelligence (Correct answer)
To increase muscular strength

Correct answer: To internalize the geometry of the kinesphere and develop spatial intelligence

Spatial scales are practiced to develop an embodied understanding of the kinesphere's geometry, training the mover's spatial awareness and clarity.

Question 41: In the Trager Approach, the quality practitioners cultivate internally before and during a session is called:

Mindfulness
Hook-up (Correct answer)
Presence
Grounding

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 42: 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 43: Bartenieff Fundamentals emphasize 'inner connectivity' to support functional movement. Which principle describes the connection between the core and the extremities?

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

Correct answer: Core–distal

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

Question 44: A CMA observing a group class notices that one participant's movement transitions lack sequential flow through body segments. Which Bartenieff pattern is likely underdeveloped?

Sequential body connectivity (Correct answer)
Homologous patterning
Effort phrasing
Spatial intent

Correct answer: Sequential body connectivity

Sequential connectivity involves movement rippling through successive body segments in an ordered chain, enabling fluid transitions.

Question 45: Core-Distal body connectivity involves movement that:

Travels along the spine from the head to the tailbone
Moves from the trunk muscles outward to the environment
Coordinates the arms along with the spinal column
Radiates outward from the navel/core to the extremities and back inward (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Radiates outward from the navel/core to the extremities and back inward

Core-Distal connectivity emphasizes the radial relationship between the body's navel center and the tips of the limbs.

Question 46: In Movement Notation, 'effort graphs' are used to:

Track spatial pathways on a graph
Plot the speed of movement over time
Visually represent the Effort qualities and their intensities across a movement sequence (Correct answer)
Measure muscular force output numerically

Correct answer: Visually represent the Effort qualities and their intensities across a movement sequence

Effort graphs provide a visual representation of how Effort qualities (Weight, Space, Time, Flow) vary and intensify throughout a movement sequence.

Question 47: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum (Correct answer)
Combining two motion factors simultaneously
Using maximum force in that factor
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 48: When a CMA notes that a client's movement shows 'Upper–Lower' connectivity, this means the client demonstrates:

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

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

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

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 50: The BF principle of 'dynamic alignment' means:

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

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

The right leg (Correct answer)
The right arm
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 52: What is the primary goal of somatic practices?

Promote competitive sports
Speed up physical training
Increase exercise repetition
Enhance body awareness and self-healing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Enhance body awareness and self-healing

The primary goal of somatic practices is to enhance an individual's body awareness and facilitate self-healing by focusing on the internal, felt experience of the body. These practices aim to improve the mind-body connection, helping individuals recognize and release chronic tension, improve movement patterns, and support the body's natural capacity for well-being. They prioritize internal sensation and self-regulation over external performance.

Question 53: Which Effort state combines Strong Weight and Direct Space qualities?

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

Correct answer: Awake State

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

Question 54: In Labanotation, the length of a symbol in the staff indicates:

The spatial level
The duration of the movement (Correct answer)
The Effort quality of the movement
The relationship to a partner

Correct answer: The duration of the movement

The vertical length of a symbol in Labanotation corresponds to the duration of the movement — longer symbols indicate longer movements.

Question 55: How does the Body category of LMA differ from the Effort category?

Body applies only to trained performers while Effort applies to all movers
Body focuses on spatial pathways while Effort focuses on timing alone
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)

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

Effort (Correct answer)
Shape
Body
Space

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 57: The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) is notable in CMA training because:

It trains athletes exclusively for professional sports
It only focuses on dance therapy
It is the primary institution certifying CMAs and training practitioners in LBMS (Correct answer)
It develops pharmaceutical movement-based treatments

Correct answer: It is the primary institution certifying CMAs and training practitioners in LBMS

LIMS is the leading institution for Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies training and CMA certification in the United States.

Question 58: The concept of 'locomotor-non-locomotor' in BF developmental work distinguishes between:

Upper and lower body movement patterns
Fast and slow movement
Effort actions and Space Harmony scales
Movement that travels through space and movement performed in place (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Movement that travels through space and movement performed in place

Locomotor movement travels through space (walking, crawling), while non-locomotor movement occurs in place (bending, stretching, twisting).

Question 59: 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?

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

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 60: The LMA Shape Mode 'Directional' movement is best described as:

Carving and molding three-dimensional volume in space
Growing and shrinking in relation to one's own breathing
Spoke-like or arc-like movement that aims toward or away from a destination (Correct answer)
Flowing through general space in free pathways

Correct answer: Spoke-like or arc-like movement that aims toward or away from a destination

Directional Shape Mode is goal-oriented movement that travels toward or away from a destination in spoke-like (straight) or arc-like (curved) paths.

Question 61: The principle of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

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

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 62: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

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

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

Exclude neurodivergent clients from movement analysis as data may be unreliable
Modify observation and communication approaches to accommodate diverse movement styles without pathologizing difference (Correct answer)
Apply standard LMA frameworks without modification to maintain consistency
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 64: The developmental movement pattern called 'homolateral' involves:

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

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 65: In LMA, 'simultaneous movement' means:

All involved body parts act together at the same instant (Correct answer)
Two movers performing the same movement in unison
Movement that occurs in exact metric time
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 66: In LMA, 'Direct' Space Effort is characterized by:

A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner (Correct answer)
An inclusive flexible attention to multiple spatial pulls
Movement bound within the near reach space
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 67: The concept of 'voluminousness' in Space Harmony describes movement that:

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

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

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

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 69: 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:

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

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 70: 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 71: Which of the following is NOT one of Laban's eight basic effort actions?

Bounce (Correct answer)
Wring
Flick
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 72: A CMA observing 'Shaping in Planes' would note movement that primarily:

Moves in spoke-like lines toward spatial goals
Grows and shrinks in response to internal breath impulses
Carves and molds three-dimensional volumetric forms in space (Correct answer)
Traces flat, two-dimensional arcs within one of the three cardinal planes

Correct answer: Carves and molds three-dimensional volumetric forms in space

Shaping in Planes (formerly called Shaping) involves three-dimensional, sculpting movement that actively molds the space around the body.

Question 73: A CMA is approached to analyze movement footage from a deceased individual. The ethical considerations include:

Limiting analysis only to Weight effort to minimize interpretive overreach
Respecting the legacy and potential impact on surviving family members, and seeking appropriate permissions (Correct answer)
No ethical considerations apply since the subject is deceased
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 74: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

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

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

Contralateral
Homologous (Correct answer)
Homolateral
Radial

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 76: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

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

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

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

Question 77: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

Widening the arms to the side
Lengthening the spine upward
Expanding the front of the body outward
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 78: Which Shape quality describes movement that narrows the body by pulling the arms inward horizontally?

Enclosing (Correct answer)
Retreating
Rising
Sinking

Correct answer: Enclosing

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

Question 79: When a CMA practitioner's scope of practice ends and a client's needs exceed movement analysis (e.g., they disclose trauma), the ethical action is to:

End the professional relationship without providing any resources
Continue working and incorporate informal trauma counseling
Refer the client to an appropriately licensed mental health professional (Correct answer)
Consult movement notation texts to find a precedent

Correct answer: Refer the client to an appropriately licensed mental health professional

Referral to appropriately credentialed professionals when client needs exceed scope of practice is a cornerstone of ethical conduct.

Question 80: What does 'central' spatial pathway mean in Space Harmony?

Movement along the kinesphere's outer edge
Movement that stays in one spot
Movement that passes through or near the body's center (Correct answer)
Movement in the horizontal plane only

Correct answer: Movement that passes through or near the body's center

Central pathways move through or near the center of the body, often crossing the midline or passing close to the core.

Question 81: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

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

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

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

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 83: The Shape Quality 'Sinking' is associated with which directional tendency?

Narrowing the body width
Descending toward the earth (Correct answer)
Enclosing the body toward the center
Rising upward away from the ground

Correct answer: Descending toward the earth

Sinking is a Shape Quality in the vertical dimension reflecting the body's movement downward toward the earth.

Question 84: Which statement best describes the relationship between Shape and Effort in LMA?

Effort always precedes Shape in any movement phrase
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)

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 85: In LMA terminology, what is the 'Kinesphere'?

The optimal zone for efficient locomotion
The entire room or performance space
The space occupied by a group of movers
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.

Question 86: The 'body key' in Labanotation is used to:

Specify which body part performs a movement when it is not the default (Correct answer)
Identify the key signature of the musical accompaniment
Mark the tempo of the piece
Indicate the floor level

Correct answer: Specify which body part performs a movement when it is not the default

Body keys clarify which specific body part performs a movement when the context does not make it clear from the staff column alone.

Question 87: In observing Shape Flow, which quality pair describes the self-referential growing and shrinking of the body shape?

Rising and Sinking
Advancing and Retreating
Growing and Shrinking (Correct answer)
Spreading and Enclosing

Correct answer: Growing and Shrinking

Shape Flow Growing and Shrinking describes the body's self-referential volumetric change, related to breath and comfort-discomfort.

Question 88: A CMA discovers an error in a previously submitted movement analysis report that could affect a client's treatment. The ethical obligation is to:

Wait to see if the error causes harm before taking action
Deny the error to protect professional reputation
Inform the relevant parties of the error promptly and provide a corrected report (Correct answer)
Discard the erroneous report and issue a new one without informing the client

Correct answer: Inform the relevant parties of the error promptly and provide a corrected report

Professional ethics require prompt disclosure of errors that may affect client welfare, followed by corrective action.

Question 89: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

Rotational (twisting)
Up/Down (lengthening)
Side/Side (widening) (Correct answer)
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 90: Shape Flow Support refers to:

The memorization of spatial scales
The floor or surface the body rests on
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 91: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

Opens outward to the side
Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment (Correct answer)
Encircles or wraps around an object
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 92: The Alexander Technique's 'primary control' refers to the dynamic relationship between:

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

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

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

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 94: The 'Spell Drive' in Effort theory combines:

Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight) (Correct answer)
Weight, Time, Flow (omits Space)
Space, Weight, Time (omits Flow)
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 95: A CMA practitioner feels strong personal discomfort with a client's cultural movement patterns that differ from Western norms. The ethical obligation is to:

Document the discomfort as a diagnostic sign in the client's record
Engage in cultural humility, seek supervision if needed, and avoid imposing cultural bias in observations (Correct answer)
Discontinue working with the client immediately
Impose Western movement standards as the professional baseline

Correct answer: Engage in cultural humility, seek supervision if needed, and avoid imposing cultural bias in observations

Professional ethics require CMAs to practice cultural humility and seek supervision to address personal biases that could affect objective movement analysis.

Question 96: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Time (Correct answer)
Space
Flow
Weight

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 97: In BF, 'yield and push' describes which aspect of movement development?

The breath cycle of inhale and exhale
The relationship between bound and free flow
The developmental process of giving weight into a surface and then pushing away from it to mobilize (Correct answer)
The alternation of strong and light Effort

Correct answer: The developmental process of giving weight into a surface and then pushing away from it to mobilize

Yield and push is a developmental movement function: first yielding weight into a surface (establishing connection), then pushing away from it to mobilize the body.

Question 98: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive (Correct answer)
Only uses Space and Time
Combines all four Effort factors
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 99: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Flow
Weight
Time
Space (Correct answer)

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

Sustained Time
Bound Flow (Correct answer)
Indirect Space
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 101: The 'Motif Notation' (or Motif Writing) differs from full Labanotation in that it:

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

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

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

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).

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.

Questions

35 min

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70%

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