Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A CMA discovers an error in a previously submitted movement analysis report that could affect a client's treatment. The ethical obligation is to:

Inform the relevant parties of the error promptly and provide a corrected report (Correct answer)
Deny the error to protect professional reputation
Wait to see if the error causes harm before taking action
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 2: In Space Harmony, 'transversals' are movement paths that:

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

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

Retreating
Enclosing (Correct answer)
Rising
Sinking

Correct answer: Enclosing

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

Question 4: What does good body mechanics help prevent?

Fatigue
Strain, injury, and inefficiency (Correct answer)
Muscle growth only
Emotional stress

Correct answer: Strain, injury, and inefficiency

Good body mechanics involve using the body in the most efficient and safe way possible during any activity. By maintaining proper posture, alignment, and movement patterns, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of muscle strain, joint injury, and chronic pain. It also enhances overall movement efficiency, conserving energy and improving performance in daily tasks and physical activities.

Question 5: Which category of LMA analyzes movement dynamics like flow and weight?

Effort (Correct answer)
Body
Space
Shape

Correct answer: Effort

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

Question 6: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

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

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

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

Question 7: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

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

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 8: What is emphasized during somatic education sessions?

External performance evaluation
Powerlifting
Self-exploration and inner awareness (Correct answer)
Speed running

Correct answer: Self-exploration and inner awareness

During somatic education sessions, the primary emphasis is on self-exploration and cultivating inner awareness. Participants are guided to pay close attention to their internal bodily sensations, movements, and feelings, rather than focusing on external performance metrics or comparisons. This internal focus empowers individuals to discover and modify their own movement patterns, fostering greater comfort, efficiency, and self-understanding.

Question 9: Which spatial form in Laban's Space Harmony traces paths through all three dimensions simultaneously?

Planar drive
Dimensional cross
Diagonal (Correct answer)
Transversal

Correct answer: Diagonal

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

Question 10: How does somatic movement therapy assist individuals?

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

Correct answer: Reconnect with bodily sensations

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

Question 11: Which type of movement phrasing involves a sharp, sudden beginning that then gradually decays in intensity?

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

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

Near State
Remote 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 13: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

Narrowing and shortening of the body
Bound flow and condensed effort
Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center (Correct answer)
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 14: In Labanotation, the length of a symbol in the staff indicates:

The spatial level
The Effort quality of the movement
The duration of the movement (Correct answer)
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 15: Which LMA concept describes the simultaneous occurrence of Effort changes throughout the whole body rather than in isolated body parts?

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

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 16: What is informed consent in movement practice?

Skipping client education
Assuming consent for all sessions
Obtaining voluntary agreement after full disclosure (Correct answer)
Surprising clients with practices

Correct answer: Obtaining voluntary agreement after full disclosure

Informed consent is a vital ethical principle that upholds client autonomy in movement practice. It requires the professional to provide comprehensive information about the proposed practices, including their purpose, procedures, potential benefits, risks, and alternatives. Only after this full disclosure can the client provide voluntary agreement, ensuring they make educated decisions about their participation.

Question 17: What does the Effort category in LMA describe?

Body postures
Dynamic qualities like weight and flow (Correct answer)
Anatomical structure
Emotional states

Correct answer: Dynamic qualities like weight and flow

In Laban Movement Analysis, the Effort category focuses on the dynamic qualities of movement, describing *how* a movement is performed rather than what part of the body moves or where it moves. It encompasses four factors: Weight (strong/light), Space (direct/indirect), Time (sudden/sustained), and Flow (bound/free). These factors reveal the inner intention and expressive qualities of movement.

Question 18: 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 19: Which LMA category addresses HOW movement is performed in terms of its qualitative dynamics?

Space
Body
Shape
Effort (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Effort

Effort describes the qualitative, inner dynamic qualities of movement across the four motion factors: Weight, Space, Time, and Flow.

Question 20: Which of the following is an example of a 'sagittal' movement in LMA Space Harmony?

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

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

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

Question 21: In observing Effort, a CMA would identify 'indirect' Space Effort in a mover who:

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

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

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

Question 22: Body-Half (homolateral) connectivity pattern emphasizes the relationship between:

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

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

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

Question 23: In Movement Notation, 'effort graphs' are used to:

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

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

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

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

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

Question 25: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

Freely streaming without restraint
Controlled, held, or restrained in its release (Correct answer)
Directed toward a specific point in space
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 26: A child repeatedly organizes movement around upper-lower body split, using both arms together and both legs together. Which Body connectivity pattern is dominant?

Homologous (Correct answer)
Core-distal
Contralateral
Homolateral

Correct answer: Homologous

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

Question 27: 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 28: 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
Over-reliance on bound flow
Highly advanced spatial intelligence
Limited ability to form adaptive, enveloping relationships with people or objects (Correct answer)

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 29: Shape Flow Support refers to:

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

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 30: 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 31: When a CMA notes that a mover's Flow Effort is primarily Bound, what behavioral tendency might this indicate?

Restraint, control, and readiness to stop (Correct answer)
Ease, release, and going-ness
Strength and grounded stability
Lightness and upward levity

Correct answer: Restraint, control, and readiness to stop

Bound Flow indicates controlled, held movement that can be stopped at any moment, often linked to caution or precision.

Question 32: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Time
Weight
Flow
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 33: When a supervisee CMA disagrees with a supervisor's ethical judgment about a client case, the appropriate action is to:

Take unilateral action to override the supervisor's decision
Comply silently with the supervisor's decision regardless of personal ethical concern
Raise the concern respectfully with the supervisor and, if unresolved, consult the organization's ethics resources or a third party (Correct answer)
Immediately report the supervisor to a licensing board without further discussion

Correct answer: Raise the concern respectfully with the supervisor and, if unresolved, consult the organization's ethics resources or a third party

Ethical disagreements in supervision should first be addressed directly and respectfully, with escalation to formal channels only when direct dialogue fails.

Question 34: Which phrasing type follows the natural inhale-exhale cycle, creating organic, continuous movement without sharp accents?

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

Correct answer: Breath rhythm phrasing

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

Question 35: Which Effort quality describes movement characterized by gradual, sustained changes in speed?

Indirect
Sustained (Correct answer)
Strong
Sudden

Correct answer: Sustained

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

Question 36: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

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

Correct answer: Side/Side (widening)

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

Question 37: How does the Body category of LMA differ from the Effort category?

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

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

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

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

Three (Correct answer)
Two
One
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 40: A CMA observes that a subject's Kinesphere is consistently very small and contracted. What movement pattern is being noted?

Sagittal retreating effort
Reduced Kinesphere / Near Reach Space (Correct answer)
Homolateral shrinkage
Vertical plane dominance

Correct answer: Reduced Kinesphere / Near Reach Space

The Kinesphere is the bubble of personal space a mover occupies; a consistently small Kinesphere indicates Near Reach Space habituation.

Question 41: In Labanotation, the center vertical line of the staff represents:

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

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

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

Question 42: Which statement best describes the relationship between Shape and Effort in LMA?

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

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

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 44: 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 45: The principle of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

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

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

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

Question 46: In Laban Movement Analysis, the Effort quality of 'Flow' relates to:

The use of direct versus indirect spatial pathways
The speed or timing of movement transitions
The amount of muscular force used in movement
The degree of freedom or restraint in movement's continuity (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The degree of freedom or restraint in movement's continuity

Flow in LMA describes the degree of control or abandon in movement — Free Flow is unrestrained and difficult to stop; Bound Flow is controlled and easily arrested.

Question 47: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, the 'pelvic lateral shift' exercise primarily trains:

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

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

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

Question 48: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

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

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

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

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

A single isolated movement of one body part
A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)
The overall theme of a choreographic work
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 51: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

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

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

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

Question 52: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

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

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

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

Question 53: 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 54: A 'metric' movement phrase is characterized by:

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

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

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

Question 55: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'Thigh Lift' is a basic exercise primarily intended to develop:

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

Correct answer: Core-distal connectivity and inner unit activation

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

Question 56: In pattern recognition, which observation method involves watching the whole mover for several movement cycles before focusing on specific elements?

Kinesiological breakdown
Spatial tracing
Sequential segmental analysis
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 57: 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 relationship between two movers
The effort quality of a movement phrase

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

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

Question 58: Which of the following is NOT one of Laban's eight basic effort actions?

Wring
Flick
Bounce (Correct answer)
Slide

Correct answer: Bounce

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

Question 59: In LMA, the 'A-scale' (Defense Scale) primarily traces diagonals through which three dimensions?

Vertical only
Rotational pathways only
All three dimensions—vertical, horizontal, and sagittal (Correct answer)
Horizontal and sagittal 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 60: When an LMA analyst observes body connectivity patterns in a mover, the primary focus is on:

Whether movements conform to standard developmental milestone timelines
How body parts coordinate, support, or inhibit one another in movement organization (Correct answer)
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 61: 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 62: 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?

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

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

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

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

Time
Flow
Space
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 65: What is the purpose of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA)?

Analyze and describe human movement (Correct answer)
Evaluate sports scores
Create musical compositions
Enhance theater performances

Correct answer: Analyze and describe human movement

The primary purpose of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) is to provide a comprehensive and systematic framework for observing, describing, and interpreting all forms of human movement. It offers a common language and set of categories (Body, Effort, Shape, Space) to understand the nuances of how and why people move. LMA is used across various fields, including dance, therapy, and anthropology, for detailed movement study.

Question 66: In LMA, which Effort quality describes movement that proceeds along a clear, predetermined path in space?

Strong
Sustained
Direct (Correct answer)
Indirect

Correct answer: Direct

Direct Space Effort means movement follows a single, focused line or trajectory in space.

Question 67: The Shape Quality 'Sinking' is associated with which directional tendency?

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

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

Peripheral/Central, Straight/Curved, Fast/Slow, Open/Closed
Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing (Correct answer)
High/Low, Wide/Narrow, Far/Near, Strong/Light
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 69: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

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

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

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

Question 70: In somatic practices, 'proprioception' is best described as:

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

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

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

Question 71: What is the primary goal of somatic practices?

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

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

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

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

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

Question 73: What does pattern observation allow in therapy settings?

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

Correct answer: Tailor interventions to tendencies

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

Question 74: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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

Space (Correct answer)
Time
Flow
Weight

Correct answer: Space

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

Question 76: Irmgard Bartenieff integrated Laban's movement theory with which other discipline to develop Bartenieff Fundamentals?

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

Correct answer: Physical therapy and neurodevelopmental principles

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

Question 77: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane

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

Question 79: Labanotation is a system for:

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

Correct answer: Recording human movement in written symbols

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

Question 80: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Time (Correct answer)
Space
Weight
Flow

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 81: Why is continued education important for professionals?

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

Correct answer: To stay current and uphold ethics

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

Question 82: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

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

Correct answer: Weight, Space, Time, Flow

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

Question 83: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

A rotational pathway
A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment (Correct answer)
A curved arc through space
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 84: In LMA, an 'Incomplete Effort' refers to a movement that:

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

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 85: What principle is crucial in movement re-education?

High-intensity repetition
Competing with others
Awareness through movement (Correct answer)
Increasing force output

Correct answer: Awareness through movement

In movement re-education, particularly within somatic practices, the principle of 'awareness through movement' is crucial. This involves guiding individuals to consciously observe and feel their body's movements and sensations, rather than just performing exercises mechanically. This heightened internal awareness allows for the identification and gentle modification of inefficient or painful movement patterns, leading to improved function and reduced discomfort.

Question 86: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

Opens outward to the side
Rises upward in the vertical dimension
Encircles or wraps around an object
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 87: In somatic movement education, 'interoception' refers to:

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

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

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

Question 88: According to professional ethics for CMAs, when publishing movement analysis research, the practitioner should:

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

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

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

Question 89: In Body organization, 'breath support' in LMA primarily relates to which developmental pattern?

Cellular (Correct answer)
Spinal
Cross-lateral
Homologous

Correct answer: Cellular

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

Question 90: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

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

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

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

Question 91: When applying somatic principles to movement re-education with a client experiencing chronic back pain, which approach would be most consistent with a somatic framework?

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

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

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

Question 92: An observer sees a mover whose weight shifts are consistently Light and Fast. Which combined Effort pattern does this represent?

Dream state effort
Action drive fragment
Spell drive (Light + Sustained)
Awake drive (Light + Quick) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Awake drive (Light + Quick)

Light and Quick together represent the 'Awake' incomplete drive, reflecting alertness and responsiveness without grounded weight.

Question 93: 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 effort quality dominant in a sequence
The spatial pathway traced by a limb
The rhythmic count of musical beats

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

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

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

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

Question 95: A CMA observes a surgeon making small, controlled, precise incisions. Which Effort quality is most evident?

Sustained Time
Free Flow
Indirect Space
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 96: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

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

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 97: In developmental movement re-education, 'navel radiation' describes movement initiated from:

The navel as a center point radiating outward in all directions (Correct answer)
The spine radiating movement to the peripheral limbs
The breath center influencing limb extension
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 98: In LMA, 'simultaneous movement' means:

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

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

The midpoint of a limb such as the elbow or knee
The cranium or coccyx endpoints of the spine
The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches (Correct answer)
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 100: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

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

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 101: The A-scale in Space Harmony is also known as the:

Equatorial scale
Defense scale (Correct answer)
Dimensional scale
Diagonal scale

Correct answer: Defense scale

The A-scale is called the Defense scale because its spatial directions correspond to protecting or defending the body.

Question 102: 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.

Certified Movement Analyst (CMA)

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

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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