Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In somatic re-education, 'sensory-motor amnesia' (a term coined by Thomas Hanna) describes:

Reduced skin sensitivity due to scar tissue formation
Inability to form new movement memories after stroke
Loss of proprioceptive feedback following peripheral nerve damage
Chronically contracted muscles that the nervous system has lost the ability to relax voluntarily (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Chronically contracted muscles that the nervous system has lost the ability to relax voluntarily

Hanna's sensory-motor amnesia describes muscles locked in habitual contraction patterns that the person can no longer consciously feel or release, corrected through Hanna Somatics.

Question 2: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

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

Correct answer: Side/Side (widening)

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

Question 3: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

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

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 4: In BMC, the 'yield' action is foundational because it:

Releases fascial restriction through sustained pressure
Teaches the practitioner to give way under partner weight
Strengthens core muscles for postural support
Establishes the push-reach-pull-grasp developmental sequence through ground contact (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Establishes the push-reach-pull-grasp developmental sequence through ground contact

Yielding in BMC establishes the foundational neurological support that precedes all pushing, reaching, pulling, and grasping actions — it is the first action in the developmental movement sequence.

Question 5: What are the six body connectivity patterns recognized in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals?

Breath, Radial, Spinal, Lateral, Diagonal, Rotational
Core-Distal, Horizontal, Vertical, Sagittal, Rotational, Spiral
Breath, Proximal, Medial, Distal, Sequential, Simultaneous
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 6: Maintaining competence as a professional obligation for CMAs includes:

Completing the initial CMA certification and then practicing independently without further training
Only attending training organized by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute
Engaging in ongoing professional development, supervision, and staying current with developments in the field (Correct answer)
Limiting practice to the exact techniques studied in initial certification coursework

Correct answer: Engaging in ongoing professional development, supervision, and staying current with developments in the field

Professional competence is a continuing obligation that requires ongoing education, supervision, and engagement with evolving knowledge.

Question 7: In pattern recognition, a CMA identifies a mover who consistently uses 'Action Drive' (Weight + Time + Space Effort). What is notably absent?

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

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

The number of square feet available to a performer
The qualities and action possibilities offered by specific spatial directions or tensions (Correct answer)
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 9: Which term describes the LMA observation that movement qualities occur in pairs of opposing polarities?

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

Correct answer: Polarities principle

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

Question 10: Which Shape mode is most self-referential and least related to the external environment?

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

Correct answer: Shape Flow

Shape Flow is the most self-referential mode — the body grows and shrinks in relation to its own center rather than in relationship with the environment.

Question 11: 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 alternation of strong and light Effort
The relationship between bound and free flow

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 12: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'inner-outer' connectivity relates to:

The breathing cycle in and out
Effort flow from bound to free
The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression (Correct answer)
Movement going from the kinesphere inward

Correct answer: The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression

Inner-outer connectivity addresses the integration of deep intrinsic muscles with the body's outer layers and external movement expression.

Question 13: In Body-Mind Centering (BMC), the concept of 'cellular breathing' refers to:

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

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

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

Question 14: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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

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

Question 15: Which observational tool in LMA helps a CMA systematically record the frequency and distribution of Effort qualities over a movement session?

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

Correct answer: Effort Graph or Effort Profile

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

Question 16: 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
Lightness and upward levity
Strength and grounded stability

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

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

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

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

Question 18: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Weight
Flow
Space (Correct answer)
Time

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

Stays in one plane
Follows only peripheral pathways
Fills three-dimensional space fully (Correct answer)
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 20: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

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

Correct answer: Weight, Space, Time, Flow

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

Question 21: Which phase of a movement phrase typically contains the moment of peak exertion or maximum expression?

Transition
Recovery
Preparation
Attack (Afraction) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Attack (Afraction)

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

Question 22: Somatic movement education differs from traditional physical rehabilitation primarily in that it:

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

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

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

Question 23: A CMA working with children must obtain informed consent from:

The school principal as the in loco parentis authority
Only the CMA's institutional supervisor
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 24: Which Effort state combines Strong Weight and Direct Space qualities?

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

Correct answer: Awake State

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

Question 25: 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 26: Which of the following movements would most exemplify 'carving' or 'shaping'?

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

Correct answer: Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them

Hugging exemplifies carving/shaping because the arms and body mold three-dimensionally around another person in the environment.

Question 27: What is a basic tool used for movement observation?

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

Correct answer: Laban Movement Analysis

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

Question 28: In LMA Body analysis, 'Spatial Intent' refers to:

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

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 29: The 'octahedron' in Space Harmony marks which spatial points?

The four floor diagonals
Twelve icosahedral vertices
Eight diagonal directions
Six dimensional directions (the endpoints of the three axes) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Six dimensional directions (the endpoints of the three axes)

The octahedron's six vertices correspond to the six dimensional endpoints: high, deep, right, left, forward, and backward.

Question 30: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

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

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

The effort qualities used in movement
Three-dimensional volumetric shaping of the body in relationship with the environment (Correct answer)
Moving along the sagittal axis only
Controlling breath during 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 32: In LMA, 'simultaneous movement' means:

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

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 33: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

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

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 34: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

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

Correct answer: Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center

Growing Shape Flow is the outward, expansive change in body shape — opening, widening, lengthening, or bulging away from center.

Question 35: 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
Shaping — enclosing
Shape Flow — closing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shape Flow — closing

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

Question 36: In Laban's spatial theory, 'deflection' means:

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

Correct answer: A slight deviation from a pure spatial direction toward an adjacent one

Deflection is a slight swerving from a pure dimensional or diagonal direction toward a neighboring spatial point, creating oblique paths.

Question 37: In assessing developmental movement, a CMA notes a child's inability to use carving/shaping. This suggests a deficit in:

Linear reach and retract skills
Personal body rhythm and breath
Effort variation
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 38: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

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

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

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

Question 39: Cross-Lateral (contralateral) body connectivity involves coordination between:

Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg (Correct answer)
Movement that traverses multiple spatial planes simultaneously
Any movement that crosses the body's midline
The relationship between core and peripheral body parts

Correct answer: Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg

Cross-Lateral connectivity integrates diagonal pairs of opposite limbs in a counter-balancing pattern essential to mature locomotion.

Question 40: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'Thigh Lift' is a basic exercise primarily intended to develop:

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

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

Wring
Bounce (Correct answer)
Slide
Flick

Correct answer: Bounce

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

Question 42: A CMA observes a pattern where the mover's movement consistently emphasizes the Door Plane (vertical plane). Which activities most typically organize around this plane?

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

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

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

Question 43: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

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

Correct answer: The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time

Effort rhythm describes how Effort qualities flow, change, and pattern themselves across time in a mover's ongoing movement sequence.

Question 44: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

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

Correct answer: Strong, Direct, Sudden

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

Question 45: A 'relationship bow' in Labanotation indicates:

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

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

Weight
Space (Correct answer)
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 47: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

Directed toward a specific point in space
Controlled, held, or restrained in its release (Correct answer)
Freely streaming without restraint
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 48: The term 'phrasing' in LMA refers to:

The relationship between a dancer's movement and musical phrasing
The rhythmic notation system used in Labanotation scores
The way movements are organized into meaningful sequences with discernible beginnings and endings (Correct answer)
How verbal language or narration accompanies a mover

Correct answer: The way movements are organized into meaningful sequences with discernible beginnings and endings

Phrasing in LMA describes how individual movements are organized into coherent units with identifiable structure, analogous to sentences in language.

Question 49: In LMA, which Effort quality describes movement that proceeds along a clear, predetermined path in space?

Strong
Indirect
Sustained
Direct (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Direct

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

Question 50: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Weight (Correct answer)
Time
Space
Flow

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 51: In LMA, 'Direct' Space Effort is characterized by:

Movement bound within the near reach space
Irregular, spontaneous spatial pathways
A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner (Correct answer)
An inclusive flexible attention to multiple spatial pulls

Correct answer: A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner

Direct Space Effort (fighting quality) involves a laser-like single focus and channeled, precise movement through space.

Question 52: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, which concept describes the movement connection between breath and active body movement?

Breath Support (Correct answer)
Spatial Intent
Inner-Outer connectivity
Core Support

Correct answer: Breath Support

Breath Support in Bartenieff Fundamentals links respiratory patterns to the initiation and quality of whole-body movement.

Question 53: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

Movement that changes the overall body shape volumetrically
Movement that creates a spoke-like or arc-like line from the body toward the environment (Correct answer)
Movement within the sagittal plane only
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 54: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Time (Correct answer)
Space
Flow
Weight

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 55: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'Thigh Lift' specifically addresses the connection between:

Foot and knee alignment
Shoulder girdle and thoracic spine
Head and tail (BABS)
Inner groin and contralateral armpit (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Inner groin and contralateral armpit

The Thigh Lift pattern in Bartenieff Fundamentals activates the inner groin connection to the contralateral armpit, establishing cross-lateral body organization.

Question 56: Bartenieff Fundamentals emphasize 'inner connectivity' to support functional movement. Which principle describes the connection between the core and the extremities?

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

Correct answer: Core–distal

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

Question 57: The 'Spell Drive' in Effort theory combines:

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

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 58: Shape Flow Support refers to:

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

Correct answer: The way Shape Flow changes underlie and support Effort expression

Shape Flow Support describes how the body's growing/shrinking three-dimensional changes serve as a substrate that supports and facilitates Effort expression.

Question 59: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

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

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

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

Question 60: In choreology, what does 'kinesphere' refer to?

The space immediately surrounding the body within reach (Correct answer)
The floor pattern of a dance
The emotional quality of movement
The rhythm of locomotion

Correct answer: The space immediately surrounding the body within reach

The kinesphere is the personal space bubble immediately surrounding the body—the reach space available without changing the base of support.

Question 61: 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 62: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

Emphasizes emotional expression over function
Only uses Space and Time
Combines all four Effort factors
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 63: 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 provides a transition phrase to connect to the next movement unit
It defines the moment of peak intensity in the phrase
It marks the resolution and completion of the movement sequence

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

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

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

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

Question 65: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing (Correct answer)
High/Low, Wide/Narrow, Far/Near, Strong/Light
Peripheral/Central, Straight/Curved, Fast/Slow, Open/Closed
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 66: In somatic practices, 'proprioception' is best described as:

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

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 67: 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 68: The LMA Effort quality 'Free Flow' is best described as movement that is:

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

Correct answer: Ongoing and difficult to stop midway

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

Question 69: Which of the following is an example of a 'sagittal' movement in LMA Space Harmony?

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

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

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

Question 70: Which phrasing type follows the natural inhale-exhale cycle, creating organic, continuous movement without sharp accents?

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

Correct answer: Breath rhythm phrasing

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

Question 71: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, the 'pelvic lateral shift' exercise primarily trains:

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

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 72: Which scenario BEST illustrates a violation of the ethical principle of fidelity in CMA practice?

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

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

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

Question 73: 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 74: What does pattern observation allow in therapy settings?

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

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

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

Correct answer: A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment

Spoke-like directional movement creates a straight linear reach, like a spoke on a wheel radiating from the hub to the rim.

Question 76: Which of the following is one of the six basic Bartenieff Fundamental exercises?

Forward roll
Arabesque
Plié
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 77: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

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

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

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

Question 78: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

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

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 79: Which body connectivity pattern is typically the last to emerge in human motor development?

Core-Distal
Upper-Lower
Breath
Cross-Lateral (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Cross-Lateral

Cross-Lateral (contralateral) coordination is the most complex developmental achievement and is the last connectivity pattern to emerge in motor development.

Question 80: In Body organization, 'breath support' in LMA primarily relates to which developmental pattern?

Cellular (Correct answer)
Spinal
Homologous
Cross-lateral

Correct answer: Cellular

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

Question 81: A CMA observing a group class notices that one participant's movement transitions lack sequential flow through body segments. Which Bartenieff pattern is likely underdeveloped?

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

Correct answer: Sequential body connectivity

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

Question 82: A CMA observing a dancer whose movement constantly shifts spatial pathways and explores multiple directions simultaneously would likely note which Space Effort quality?

Direct
Sustained
Bound
Indirect (Flexible) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Indirect (Flexible)

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

Question 83: Why is spatial awareness important in movement observation?

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

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 84: The Hakomi Method, developed by Ron Kurtz, integrates somatic awareness with which psychological tradition?

Mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy (Correct answer)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Freudian psychoanalysis
Gestalt therapy exclusively

Correct answer: Mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy

Hakomi is a mindfulness-based, somatic psychotherapy that uses body sensations, posture, and movement as doorways to unconscious material and core beliefs.

Question 85: An 'Effort drive' in LMA combines how many Effort motion factors?

One
Two
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 86: What is a benefit of somatic movement practices?

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

Correct answer: Improved posture and reduced tension

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

Question 87: In pattern recognition, which observation method involves watching the whole mover for several movement cycles before focusing on specific elements?

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

Correct answer: Wide-angle or global observation

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

Question 88: '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 89: When a CMA practitioner's scope of practice ends and a client's needs exceed movement analysis (e.g., they disclose trauma), the ethical action is to:

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

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

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

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

Growing outward in all dimensions
Using strong effort qualities
Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)
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 91: Irmgard Bartenieff's concept of 'breath support' in movement phrasing means:

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

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 92: How does somatic movement therapy assist individuals?

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

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 93: 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?

Ignore it to avoid conflict with the colleague
Post about the issue on social media
Confront the colleague privately and encourage them to correct the misrepresentation (Correct answer)
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 94: What is 'Body' in Laban Movement Analysis?

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

Correct answer: Parts moving and coordination

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

Question 95: The principle of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

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

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

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

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 97: A CMA practitioner feels strong personal discomfort with a client's cultural movement patterns that differ from Western norms. The ethical obligation is to:

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

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 98: Core-Distal body connectivity involves movement that:

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

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

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

Question 99: How should a movement analyst handle conflicts of interest?

Discuss with clients only after services
Ignore them
Prioritize personal benefit
Disclose immediately (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Disclose immediately

Conflicts of interest arise when a professional's personal interests could improperly influence their professional judgment or actions. For a movement analyst, it is an ethical imperative to disclose any potential conflict immediately to the client. This transparency allows the client to make informed decisions about continuing the professional relationship and helps maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of the analyst.

Question 100: The concept of 'spatial tension' in Space Harmony refers to:

The pull between two or more spatial directions simultaneously (Correct answer)
The speed of transitioning between spatial points
Muscular effort required for a movement
The number of planes activated in a sequence

Correct answer: The pull between two or more spatial directions simultaneously

Spatial tension is the dynamic pull felt when the body simultaneously orients toward or away from multiple spatial directions.

Question 101: The Rolfing Structural Integration approach, developed by Ida Rolf, primarily works with which tissue to reorganize the body in gravity?

Cartilage
Fascia (connective tissue) (Correct answer)
Skeletal muscle
Bone

Correct answer: Fascia (connective tissue)

Rolfing manipulates the myofascial network — the fascial web surrounding muscles and organs — to release restrictions and realign the body in the gravitational field.

Question 102: A CMA notes that a subject consistently initiates movement from the distal extremities (fingers, toes) rather than from proximal body centers. Which initiation pattern is being observed?

Proximal initiation
Core-driven activation
Head-tail sequencing
Distal initiation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Distal initiation

Distal initiation means movement begins at the extremities and sequences inward, contrasting with proximal (center-out) initiation patterns.

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

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds