Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which organization maintains the official Labanotation symbol set and certification for notation scores?

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

Correct answer: Dance Notation Bureau (DNB)

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

Question 2: Which category of LMA analyzes movement dynamics like flow and weight?

Shape
Effort (Correct answer)
Body
Space

Correct answer: Effort

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

Question 3: In LMA, 'middle initiation' means a movement begins at:

An intermediate joint of a limb such as the elbow or knee (Correct answer)
The tips of the extremities such as the fingers or toes
The body's navel center
The midpoint between two active body parts

Correct answer: An intermediate joint of a limb such as the elbow or knee

Middle initiation begins at intermediate joints—elbow or knee—rather than at the distal tips or the proximal joints near the trunk.

Question 4: In Body organization, 'breath support' in LMA primarily relates to which developmental pattern?

Cellular (Correct answer)
Homologous
Spinal
Cross-lateral

Correct answer: Cellular

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

Question 5: How does the Body category of LMA differ from the Effort category?

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

Correct answer: Body addresses which body parts move and how they are organized; Effort describes movement qualities and dynamics

The Body category concerns which parts are active and their organizational connectivity, while Effort describes the dynamic qualities—Weight, Space, Time, and Flow—of movement.

Question 6: Which developmental movement pattern involves the body folding and unfolding around a transverse axis?

Spinal (Correct answer)
Homologous
Homolateral
Contralateral

Correct answer: Spinal

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

Question 7: The Shape Quality 'Sinking' is associated with which directional tendency?

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

Correct answer: Descending toward the earth

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

Question 8: 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
Lifting and lowering the shoulders
Swinging the arms side to side

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

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

Question 9: 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 10: In Labanotation, the center vertical line of the staff represents:

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

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 11: 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 12: Which Effort Motion Factor is most associated with a mover's relationship to TIME?

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

Correct answer: Time Effort (Sustained vs. Sudden)

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

Question 13: In group movement analysis settings such as dance/movement therapy groups, the ethical handling of one member's private disclosures requires the CMA to:

Share all disclosures with the group to foster transparency
Document all disclosures in group notes accessible to all participants
Encourage the disclosing member to leave the group temporarily
Maintain individual confidentiality while managing group dynamics appropriately (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Maintain individual confidentiality while managing group dynamics appropriately

Individual confidentiality obligations persist within group settings and must be carefully balanced with group process management.

Question 14: What does a 'hold sign' in Labanotation indicate?

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

Correct answer: The body part remains still in its current position

A hold sign in Labanotation indicates that the body part maintains its current position without moving for the duration indicated.

Question 15: How can pattern recognition benefit a movement analyst?

Ignore minor motions
Predict tendencies and suggest strategies (Correct answer)
Reinforce old habits
Limit movements

Correct answer: Predict tendencies and suggest strategies

Pattern recognition allows a movement analyst to identify habitual ways of moving, both functional and dysfunctional. By understanding these recurring patterns, the analyst can predict an individual's movement tendencies and potential challenges. This insight is crucial for developing targeted interventions and suggesting effective strategies to improve movement efficiency, prevent injury, or enhance performance.

Question 16: In assessing developmental movement, a CMA notes a child's inability to use carving/shaping. This suggests a deficit in:

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

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

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

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

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

Correct answer: Highlight tension and inefficiency

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

Question 19: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

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

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

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

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

The shape made by the whole body in space
The rhythm of breathing in relation to movement
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 22: What are the six body connectivity patterns recognized in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals?

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)
Breath, Radial, Spinal, Lateral, Diagonal, Rotational

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 23: In the LMA Space Harmony framework, which spatial pull refers to movement oriented toward the High-Right-Forward diagonal?

Left-low-back diagonal
Right-high-forward diagonal (RHF) (Correct answer)
Door plane vertical
Sagittal forward axis

Correct answer: Right-high-forward diagonal (RHF)

Space Harmony maps movement pulls along diagonals, axes, and planes within the Kinesphere; RHF is one of four primary diagonals.

Question 24: Which of the following movements would most exemplify 'carving' or 'shaping'?

Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them (Correct answer)
Breathing in deeply
Performing a straight-armed punch
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 25: What is an important principle of safe body mechanics during lifting?

Twist while lifting
Bend at the waist
Lift quickly with arms
Keep load close and bend knees (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Keep load close and bend knees

When lifting, it is crucial to keep the load as close to the body as possible to reduce leverage and strain on the back. Bending the knees and using the powerful leg muscles to lift, rather than bending at the waist, helps maintain a neutral spine and distributes the weight safely. This prevents injury to the back and promotes efficient lifting, protecting the mover's body.

Question 26: Somatic movement education differs from traditional physical rehabilitation primarily in that it:

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

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

Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane (Correct answer)
Cut across the body from side to side horizontally
Follow the sagittal midline of the body
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 28: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

The pathway a body part traces through space
The emotional quality of a movement phrase
The personal space bubble surrounding the mover's reach (Correct answer)
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 29: What is informed consent in movement practice?

Assuming consent for all sessions
Obtaining voluntary agreement after full disclosure (Correct answer)
Skipping client education
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 30: The 'yielding-pushing-reaching-pulling-grasping' sequence in developmental movement re-education (as used in BMC) is organized around which developmental principle?

Strength precedes flexibility in all motor learning
Actions follow a cephalocaudal (head-to-tail) developmental progression
Movements progress from distal to proximal organization
Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action

In BMC's developmental framework, each action in the sequence (yield→push→reach→pull→grasp) requires the neurological establishment of the previous one to function optimally.

Question 31: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Space
Weight (Correct answer)
Time
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 32: Which action reflects professionalism in client interactions?

Maintaining clear boundaries and respect (Correct answer)
Ignoring client preferences
Overstepping boundaries
Making personal judgments

Correct answer: Maintaining clear boundaries and respect

Professionalism in client interactions is demonstrated by consistently maintaining clear boundaries and showing profound respect. This involves separating personal feelings from professional duties, avoiding dual relationships, and ensuring all communication and actions are appropriate and client-focused. Such conduct builds trust, fosters a safe environment, and ensures the effectiveness of the professional relationship.

Question 33: The Hakomi Method, developed by Ron Kurtz, integrates somatic awareness with which psychological tradition?

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

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

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

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

Four
One
Three (Correct answer)
Two

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 36: What is a benefit of somatic movement practices?

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

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 37: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

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

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

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

Question 38: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

Float/Punch, Glide/Slash, Wring/Dab, Press/Flick
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

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 39: Continuum Movement, developed by Emilie Conrad, emphasizes:

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

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

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

Question 40: How should ethical complaints be handled?

Blame the client
Ignore them
Follow official grievance procedures (Correct answer)
Discuss on social media

Correct answer: Follow official grievance procedures

Handling ethical complaints appropriately is crucial for maintaining professional accountability and trust within any field. Instead of ignoring or improperly discussing them, professionals must follow established official grievance procedures. This ensures a fair, impartial, and structured process for investigating and resolving complaints, protecting both the client and the professional's integrity.

Question 41: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

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

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

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

Question 42: The term 'phrasing' in LMA refers to:

The way movements are organized into meaningful sequences with discernible beginnings and endings (Correct answer)
The rhythmic notation system used in Labanotation scores
The relationship between a dancer's movement and musical phrasing
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 43: 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 44: 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 45: Which system records the pathways and direction of movements?

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

Correct answer: Spatial intent and kinesphere

In Laban Movement Analysis, the concept of 'Spatial intent' and the 'kinesphere' are used to describe and record the pathways and directions of movements. The kinesphere refers to the personal space surrounding the body that can be reached by movement, while spatial intent describes the specific directions and dimensions of movement within that space. This helps analyze how movement is organized in relation to the environment.

Question 46: The Feldenkrais Method's 'Awareness Through Movement' (ATM) lessons are primarily delivered in which format?

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

Correct answer: Verbally guided group movement sequences

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

Question 47: In Laban's Effort system, which motion factor relates to the mover's attitude toward their own body weight?

Flow
Time
Weight (Correct answer)
Space

Correct answer: Weight

The Weight Effort factor reflects the mover's attitude toward gravity, ranging from Light (indulging) to Strong (fighting).

Question 48: In LMA Shape, 'Shape Flow' refers to movement that:

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

Correct answer: Reflects the body's relationship to its own center, growing and shrinking

Shape Flow describes the body's self-referential growing and shrinking that accompanies breathing and inner sensation.

Question 49: Which somatic practice explicitly uses the principle of 'non-doing' or minimal effort, often described as 'directing' without muscular effort?

Gyrokinesis
Rolfing
Alexander Technique (Correct answer)
Pilates

Correct answer: Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique teaches 'directing' — projecting mental instructions to the body (e.g., 'neck free, head forward and up') without voluntarily contracting muscles to create change.

Question 50: The concept of 'breath support' in Bartenieff Fundamentals refers to:

The use of audible exhales as a deliberate performance element
How the breath cycle initiates and organizes the quality and expression of movement (Correct answer)
Respiratory therapy applications for movement rehabilitation clients
Techniques for controlling breathing rate during aerobic exercise

Correct answer: How the breath cycle initiates and organizes the quality and expression of movement

Breath support in BF addresses how the natural breath cycle underpins movement initiation, organization, and expressive quality.

Question 51: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'inner-outer' connectivity relates to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Space
Flow
Weight
Time (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Time

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

Question 56: 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?

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

Correct answer: Sequential body connectivity

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

Question 57: Which LMA category addresses HOW movement is performed in terms of its qualitative dynamics?

Effort (Correct answer)
Body
Space
Shape

Correct answer: Effort

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

Question 58: When recognizing a 'Postural' movement (as opposed to a 'Gestural' movement), what is the key distinguishing feature?

The movement follows a spatial pathway
Only the limbs are involved
The movement involves weight transfer
The whole body participates in the movement quality (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The whole body participates in the movement quality

Postural movement involves the whole body sharing the same movement quality, whereas Gesture involves partial body movement without whole-body support.

Question 59: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

Strength, Speed, Tension, Pathway
Force, Direction, Rhythm, Shape
Weight, Space, Time, Flow (Correct answer)
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 60: A CMA practitioner uses Space Harmony analysis in a choreographic project and later wishes to publish the movement notation of a client's improvisation. The practitioner must:

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

Correct answer: Obtain the client's written consent before publishing any identifiable movement material

A client's movement material remains their intellectual and personal property; written consent is required before publication.

Question 61: In developmental movement re-education, 'navel radiation' describes movement initiated from:

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

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

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

Question 62: The LMA Effort quality 'Free Flow' is best described as movement that is:

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

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

Space, Weight, Time (omits Flow)
Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight) (Correct answer)
Weight, Time, Flow (omits Space)
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 64: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'Thigh Lift' specifically addresses the connection between:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Feldenkrais Method

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

Question 66: Shape Flow Support refers to:

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

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

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

Question 67: In choreology, what does 'kinesphere' refer to?

The emotional quality of movement
The space immediately surrounding the body within reach (Correct answer)
The floor pattern of a dance
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 68: Why are ethical standards important in movement analysis?

To limit client options
To ensure respect and professionalism (Correct answer)
To promote personal interests
To increase competition

Correct answer: To ensure respect and professionalism

Ethical standards are fundamental in movement analysis to build and maintain trust with clients. They ensure that practitioners conduct themselves with integrity, respect client autonomy, and uphold professional boundaries. This framework guarantees that all interactions and analyses are performed with the client's well-being and best interests as the priority, fostering a professional and respectful environment.

Question 69: Which Shape quality describes movement that narrows the body by pulling the arms inward horizontally?

Rising
Enclosing (Correct answer)
Sinking
Retreating

Correct answer: Enclosing

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

Question 70: Which Body organization pattern describes movement that is initiated from the core and radiates outward to the distal extremities?

Core-distal connectivity (Correct answer)
Head-tail connectivity
Contralateral connectivity
Homologous connectivity

Correct answer: Core-distal connectivity

Core-distal connectivity is a developmental movement pattern where energy moves between the navel center and all extremities simultaneously.

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

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

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: The developmental movement pattern called 'homolateral' involves:

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

Correct answer: Same-side arm and leg working together

Homolateral movement involves ipsilateral patterning — the arm and leg on the same side of the body working together, as in some reptile movements.

Question 73: Somatic educator Thomas Hanna identified three reflexive stress patterns. Which reflex relates to the 'startle response' that causes the front of the body to contract?

The Landau Reaction
The Trauma Reflex
The Green Light Reflex
The Red Light Reflex (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Red Light Reflex

Hanna's Red Light Reflex is the withdrawal response triggered by fear or stress, causing flexion of the front body — hunched shoulders, contracted abdomen, and forward head.

Question 74: In movement observation, what does the term 'Transition' specifically refer to?

The pause between movement phrases
The spatial path from Point A to Point B
The peak moment of an action
The movement connecting one posture or phrase to the next (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The movement connecting one posture or phrase to the next

Transitions are how a mover moves between actions or postures, and they carry significant expressive and patterning information.

Question 75: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

Requires deliberate muscular effort to continue
Stays bound to one location
Uses strong weight throughout
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 76: 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 77: 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?

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

Correct answer: Distal initiation

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

Question 78: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

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

Correct answer: Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment

Retreating is a sagittal Shape quality in which the body or body part moves backward, withdrawing from the forward-facing environment.

Question 79: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

Lengthening the spine upward
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

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

Flick
Wring
Slide
Bounce (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Bounce

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

Question 81: A CMA is approached to analyze movement footage from a deceased individual. The ethical considerations include:

Respecting the legacy and potential impact on surviving family members, and seeking appropriate permissions (Correct answer)
Limiting analysis only to Weight effort to minimize interpretive overreach
No ethical considerations apply since the subject is deceased
Publishing the analysis immediately to contribute to historical movement research

Correct answer: Respecting the legacy and potential impact on surviving family members, and seeking appropriate permissions

Ethical responsibilities extend to deceased individuals' legacies and the potential impact of analysis on surviving family members and communities.

Question 82: The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) is notable in CMA training because:

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

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

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

Question 83: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Space (Correct answer)
Time
Weight
Flow

Correct answer: Space

The Passion Drive combines Weight, Time, and Flow while omitting Space, giving it an intense, emotionally driven quality without spatial focus.

Question 84: Which Shape mode is most self-referential and least related to the external environment?

Directional Arc-like
Carving / Shaping
Shape Flow (Correct answer)
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 85: Which quality best defines 'bound flow'?

Fast and jerky
Heavy and abrupt
Controlled and contained (Correct answer)
Carefree and loose

Correct answer: Controlled and contained

In Laban Movement Analysis, 'bound flow' is an Effort quality characterized by a sense of control, containment, and resistance. Movements with bound flow often appear careful, deliberate, and held back, as if energy is being continuously restrained. This contrasts with 'free flow,' which is released and unrestrained, highlighting the internal dynamic of the movement.

Question 86: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

Musical tempo applied to movement
The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time (Correct answer)
The spatial pattern traced by the feet
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 87: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

Light, Direct, Sustained
Strong, Direct, Sudden (Correct answer)
Light, Indirect, 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 88: The Rolfing Structural Integration approach, developed by Ida Rolf, primarily works with which tissue to reorganize the body in gravity?

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

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 89: Which of the following is NOT a component recorded in Labanotation?

Duration of movement
Level of movement
Direction of movement
Costume color (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Costume color

Labanotation records movement parameters such as direction, level, duration, and body part — but not visual design elements like costume color.

Question 90: When adapting Laban Movement Analysis for use with neurodivergent clients, ethical practice requires the CMA to:

Exclude neurodivergent clients from movement analysis as data may be unreliable
Apply standard LMA frameworks without modification to maintain consistency
Focus solely on Body category observations to simplify the process
Modify observation and communication approaches to accommodate diverse movement styles without pathologizing difference (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Modify observation and communication approaches to accommodate diverse movement styles without pathologizing difference

Ethical competency includes adapting professional practice to serve diverse populations without imposing a neurotypical normative bias.

Question 91: The 'contralateral' developmental pattern is important because it:

Isolates the upper body from the lower body
Integrates cross-body diagonal connections between opposite limbs (Correct answer)
Keeps both sides of the body moving symmetrically
Focuses on spinal flexion only

Correct answer: Integrates cross-body diagonal connections between opposite limbs

Contralateral movement integrates opposite arm and leg diagonally across the body's midline, supporting complex locomotion and cross-brain integration.

Question 92: When a supervisee CMA disagrees with a supervisor's ethical judgment about a client case, the appropriate action is to:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Controlled, held, or restrained in its release

Bound Flow is characterized by restraint, control, and resistance to flow, giving movement a held, cautious, or precise quality.

Question 94: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

Avoiding the factor entirely
Combining two motion factors simultaneously
Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum (Correct answer)
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 95: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

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

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

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

Correct answer: Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive

The Action Drive omits Flow and combines Weight, Space, and Time, producing the eight basic effort actions used for functional task completion.

Question 97: Cross-Lateral (contralateral) body connectivity involves coordination between:

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

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 98: What is the primary goal of somatic practices?

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

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

A curved arc through space
A rotational pathway
A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment (Correct answer)
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 100: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

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

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

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

Question 101: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)
Growing outward in all dimensions
Moving in the horizontal plane
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 102: 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.

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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