Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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

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

Question 2: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

Peripheral/Central, Straight/Curved, Fast/Slow, Open/Closed
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)

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 3: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'upper-lower' connectivity refers to:

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

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

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

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 5: In somatic practices, 'proprioception' is best described as:

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

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

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

Question 6: Continuum Movement, developed by Emilie Conrad, emphasizes:

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

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

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

Question 7: 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 8: 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
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)
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 9: What does 'central' spatial pathway mean in Space Harmony?

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

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 10: In LMA Body analysis, 'Spatial Intent' refers to:

The effort quality of spatial attention
The rhythm of breathing in relation to movement
The directional orientation that organizes a body part's movement path (Correct answer)
The shape made by the whole body in space

Correct answer: The directional orientation that organizes a body part's movement path

Spatial Intent describes how the mover's intention directs a body part toward a specific location or direction in space.

Question 11: When an LMA analyst observes body connectivity patterns in a mover, the primary focus is on:

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

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

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

Question 12: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

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

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

Only uses Space and Time
Combines all four Effort factors
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 14: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

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

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 15: A CMA observing 'Shaping in Planes' would note movement that primarily:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Spinal push-up or spinal undulation

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

Question 17: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

Musical tempo applied to movement
The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time (Correct answer)
The number of times an action repeats
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 18: In Space Harmony, what term describes the geometric spatial forms that connect points in the kinesphere?

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

Correct answer: Crystalline forms

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

Question 19: Which of the following movements would most exemplify 'carving' or 'shaping'?

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

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 20: In LMA Shape, 'Shape Flow' refers to movement that:

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

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

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

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 22: 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?

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

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

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

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 24: How does observing body mechanics assist in movement analysis?

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

Correct answer: Highlight tension and inefficiency

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

Question 25: Which of the following best describes the LMA concept of 'Phrase'?

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

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

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

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 27: In Labanotation, the staff is read:

Top to bottom, vertically
Bottom to top, vertically, representing time moving upward (Correct answer)
Left to right, horizontally
Right to left, horizontally

Correct answer: Bottom to top, vertically, representing time moving upward

Labanotation is read from bottom to top on a vertical staff, with time moving upward — earlier movements at the bottom, later ones at the top.

Question 28: The Shape Quality 'Sinking' is associated with which directional tendency?

Narrowing the body width
Enclosing the body toward the center
Descending toward the earth (Correct answer)
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 29: The Upper-Lower body connectivity pattern in LMA refers to the relationship between:

The upper half of the body and the lower half, divided at the waist (Correct answer)
The head and the torso
The arms and the legs
Core muscles and the distal limbs

Correct answer: The upper half of the body and the lower half, divided at the waist

Upper-Lower connectivity emphasizes differentiation and cooperation between the upper body (above the waist) and the lower body (below the waist).

Question 30: In BF, 'yield and push' describes which aspect of movement development?

The breath cycle of inhale and exhale
The developmental process of giving weight into a surface and then pushing away from it to mobilize (Correct answer)
The relationship between bound and free flow
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 31: In LMA, 'proximal initiation' means a movement begins at:

The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches (Correct answer)
The midpoint of a limb such as the elbow or knee
The cranium or coccyx endpoints of the spine
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 32: Which statement best describes the relationship between Shape and Effort in LMA?

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

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

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

Question 33: A CMA working with children must obtain informed consent from:

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

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 34: 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 35: 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 36: 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
Discontinue working with the client immediately
Engage in cultural humility, seek supervision if needed, and avoid imposing cultural bias in observations (Correct answer)
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 37: In the context of somatic practices, 'embodiment' is best understood as:

The memorization of codified movement sequences in the body
Achieving anatomically correct alignment in static posture
The physical fitness level of the practitioner
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 38: Confidentiality in CMA practice requires that client movement profiles:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Time Effort (Sustained vs. Sudden)

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

Question 40: Which observational tool in LMA helps a CMA systematically record the frequency and distribution of Effort qualities over a movement session?

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

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

Directional Spoke-like
Shape Flow (Correct answer)
Carving / Shaping
Directional Arc-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 42: When observing movement patterns over time, what does 'Phrase' refer to in Laban Movement Analysis?

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

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

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

Question 43: Irmgard Bartenieff's concept of 'breath support' in movement phrasing means:

Allowing breath rhythm to initiate, support, and complete movement phrases organically (Correct answer)
Holding breath during effort phases to stabilize the core
Coordinating breath with counted musical rhythms in dance
Using diaphragmatic breathing to increase aerobic endurance

Correct answer: Allowing breath rhythm to initiate, support, and complete movement phrases organically

For Bartenieff, breath support means the natural breath cycle — inhale, exhale, recovery — organically initiates and sustains movement phrasing rather than being separately managed.

Question 44: 'Grounding' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

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

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 45: Which phrasing type follows the natural inhale-exhale cycle, creating organic, continuous movement without sharp accents?

Breath rhythm phrasing (Correct answer)
Impulsive phrasing
Swing phrasing
Metered phrasing

Correct answer: Breath rhythm phrasing

Breath rhythm phrasing mirrors the body's most fundamental respiratory cycle, producing continuous, organically flowing movement.

Question 46: In LMA, the 'A-scale' (Defense Scale) primarily traces diagonals through which three dimensions?

Rotational pathways only
All three dimensions—vertical, horizontal, and sagittal (Correct answer)
Horizontal and sagittal only
Vertical only

Correct answer: All three dimensions—vertical, horizontal, and sagittal

The A-scale moves through all three spatial dimensions, connecting high–low, side–side, and forward–back spatial pulls in sequence.

Question 47: Which Effort motion factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward space and spatial attention?

Space (Correct answer)
Weight
Time
Flow

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 48: Which action reflects professionalism in client interactions?

Overstepping boundaries
Ignoring client preferences
Making personal judgments
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 49: Which organization maintains the official Labanotation symbol set and certification for notation scores?

American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
Dance Notation Bureau (DNB) (Correct answer)
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)

Correct answer: Dance Notation Bureau (DNB)

The Dance Notation Bureau (DNB) in New York is the official organization that maintains, archives, and certifies Labanotation scores.

Question 50: 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:

Obtain the client's written consent before publishing any identifiable movement material (Correct answer)
Change the client's gender in the notation to anonymize it sufficiently
Publish freely since movement in public space has no copyright protection
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 51: What is a key ethical responsibility toward colleagues?

Criticizing them openly
Competing aggressively
Respecting and supporting professionalism (Correct answer)
Ignoring collaboration

Correct answer: Respecting and supporting professionalism

A key ethical responsibility toward colleagues is to foster a professional and supportive environment. This involves treating colleagues with respect, engaging in constructive collaboration, and collectively upholding the standards and reputation of the profession. Such behavior strengthens the professional community and contributes to a higher quality of service across the field.

Question 52: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Weight
Space (Correct answer)
Time
Flow

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

Weight, Time, Flow (omits Space)
Space, Weight, Time (omits Flow)
Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight) (Correct answer)
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 54: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

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

Correct answer: Strong, Direct, Sudden

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

Question 55: 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 56: 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
Bound flow and condensed effort
Collapsing inward toward the core

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 57: Which pattern from Bartenieff Fundamentals specifically addresses the connection between the mouth and the tail to establish spinal length?

Body Half
Knee Drop
Head-Tail Connectivity (Correct answer)
BABS (Basic Effort Actions in Body-Space)

Correct answer: Head-Tail Connectivity

Head-Tail Connectivity in Bartenieff work establishes the relationship between the two ends of the spine — mouth/cranium to tail/coccyx — supporting spinal length and sequential movement.

Question 58: In Space Harmony, 'transversals' are movement paths that:

Follow the peripheral edge of the icosahedron (Correct answer)
Always begin and end at the same point
Move only in one dimension
Cross from one side of the kinesphere to the other through the body

Correct answer: Follow the peripheral edge of the icosahedron

Transversals are spatial paths that cross obliquely through the kinesphere, connecting non-adjacent spatial zones along the faces of the icosahedron.

Question 59: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

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

Correct answer: Cannot easily be stopped once initiated

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

Question 60: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

Growing outward in all dimensions
Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)
Using strong effort qualities
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 61: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Space
Weight
Flow
Time (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 62: The Head-Tail body connectivity pattern primarily emphasizes which aspect of movement organization?

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

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

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

Question 63: The Alexander Technique's 'primary control' refers to the dynamic relationship between:

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

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 64: Why is spatial awareness important in movement observation?

To set furniture layouts
To determine personality traits
To design spaces
To interpret movement in space (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To interpret movement in space

Spatial awareness is crucial for a movement analyst to understand how an individual interacts with and navigates their environment. It involves observing the pathways, directions, and dimensions of movement, as well as the relationship of the body to the surrounding space. This helps interpret the intent and impact of movements within a given context, providing a holistic view of spatial engagement.

Question 65: In pattern recognition, which observation method involves watching the whole mover for several movement cycles before focusing on specific elements?

Sequential segmental analysis
Spatial tracing
Kinesiological breakdown
Wide-angle or global observation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Wide-angle or global observation

Global observation allows the observer to perceive overall movement themes and patterns before narrowing analytical focus.

Question 66: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

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

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

Forward roll
Plié
Arabesque
Thigh lift (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Thigh lift

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

Question 68: In movement phrasing, the 'preparation' phase serves which primary function?

It gathers readiness and sets up the conditions for the main action (Correct answer)
It marks the resolution and completion of the movement sequence
It provides a transition phrase to connect to the next movement unit
It defines the moment of peak intensity in the phrase

Correct answer: It gathers readiness and sets up the conditions for the main action

The preparation phase gathers energy and establishes the readiness that makes the main action of the phrase possible.

Question 69: Which type of movement phrasing involves a sharp, sudden beginning that then gradually decays in intensity?

Impulsive phrasing (Correct answer)
Sustained phrasing
Swing 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 70: An 'Effort drive' in LMA combines how many Effort motion factors?

Two
One
Three (Correct answer)
Four

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

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

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

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

Question 72: What are the six body connectivity patterns recognized in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals?

Breath, Radial, Spinal, Lateral, Diagonal, Rotational
Breath, Proximal, Medial, Distal, Sequential, Simultaneous
Core-Distal, Horizontal, Vertical, Sagittal, Rotational, Spiral
Breath, Core-Distal, Head-Tail, Upper-Lower, Body-Half, Cross-Lateral (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Breath, Core-Distal, Head-Tail, Upper-Lower, Body-Half, Cross-Lateral

The six body connectivity patterns progress developmentally from Breath through Cross-Lateral integration.

Question 73: What is a basic tool used for movement observation?

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

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

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

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

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

Correct answer: Feldenkrais Method

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

Question 76: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

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

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 77: In pattern recognition, a CMA identifies a mover who consistently uses 'Action Drive' (Weight + Time + Space Effort). What is notably absent?

Spatial pathways
Shape changes
Body part differentiation
Flow Effort (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Flow Effort

Action Drive combines Weight, Time, and Space Efforts while Flow is not a defining element, making it the absent Motion Factor.

Question 78: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

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

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

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

Question 79: Why is movement observation important in analysis?

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

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 80: 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 81: The Feldenkrais Method's 'Awareness Through Movement' (ATM) lessons are primarily delivered in which format?

Verbally guided group movement sequences (Correct answer)
Video-based mirror practice routines
One-on-one hands-on table sessions
Partner-assisted resistance training

Correct answer: Verbally guided group movement sequences

ATM lessons are verbally guided group classes where participants follow spoken instructions through movement sequences to develop kinesthetic awareness.

Question 82: 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 83: In developmental movement re-education, 'navel radiation' describes movement initiated from:

The breath center influencing limb extension
The navel as a center point radiating outward in all directions (Correct answer)
The spine radiating movement to the peripheral limbs
The crown of the head outward to the extremities

Correct answer: The navel as a center point radiating outward in all directions

Navel radiation is an early developmental pattern where movement radiates from the navel (as a central organizing point) outward symmetrically toward all six limb ends.

Question 84: Which Effort quality describes movement characterized by gradual, sustained changes in speed?

Sudden
Sustained (Correct answer)
Strong
Indirect

Correct answer: Sustained

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

Question 85: In Labanotation, 'forward' direction is indicated by a symbol that is:

White (open) and shaped like a narrow rectangle (Correct answer)
Triangular and pointing up
Gray and diagonal
Black and rectangular

Correct answer: White (open) and shaped like a narrow rectangle

The forward middle-level direction symbol in Labanotation is white (open) and rectangular, distinguishable by its lack of shading.

Question 86: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

Light, Direct, Sustained
Light, Indirect, Sustained (Correct answer)
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 87: A CMA practitioner discovers that a colleague has been misrepresenting their Laban Movement Analysis credentials to clients. What is the most ethically appropriate first step?

Confront the colleague privately and encourage them to correct the misrepresentation (Correct answer)
Ignore it to avoid conflict with the colleague
Post about the issue on social media
Immediately report the colleague to all their clients

Correct answer: Confront the colleague privately and encourage them to correct the misrepresentation

Ethical standards require addressing credential misrepresentation directly with the colleague first before escalating to formal reporting channels.

Question 88: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

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

Correct answer: Side/Side (widening)

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

Question 89: The 'body key' in Labanotation is used to:

Specify which body part performs a movement when it is not the default (Correct answer)
Mark the tempo of the piece
Identify the key signature of the musical accompaniment
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 90: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

The emotional quality of a movement phrase
The rhythmic pattern of locomotion
The pathway a body part traces through space
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 91: 'Core-distal' connectivity in Bartenieff Fundamentals describes:

Simultaneous activation linking the body's core to its extremities (Correct answer)
The connection between feet and hands only
Isolating the distal limbs from the trunk
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 92: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

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
Movement that changes the overall body shape volumetrically

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

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

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

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

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

Moving toward the active, fighting end of an Effort factor (Correct answer)
Using bound flow exclusively
Combining two planes simultaneously
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 95: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

Controlled, held, or restrained in its release (Correct answer)
Rapid and explosive
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 96: Shape Flow Support refers to:

The memorization of spatial scales
A technique for supporting injured movers
The floor or surface the body rests on
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 97: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Space
Flow
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 98: The concept of 'voluminousness' in Space Harmony describes movement that:

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

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 99: 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)
Only records Effort qualities
Is used exclusively for notation of sport
Records only spatial pathways

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 100: The concept of 'inhibition' in the Alexander Technique means:

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

Correct answer: Pausing to prevent habitual reactive responses before acting

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

Question 101: The concept of 'locomotor-non-locomotor' in BF developmental work distinguishes between:

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

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

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

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.

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

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120 min

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70%

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