Profile of a Certified Movement Analyst – CMA

A CMA is a skilled movement professional trained and certified by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS®). A CMA has a highly refined understanding of the patterns of movement through the LMA lenses of Body, Effort, Shape and Space.

As a Movement Specialist, a CMA uses his/her comprehensive knowledge to identify movement patterns, convey the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of any human movement, and prepare people in numerous fields for active participation in the world.

To become a CMA a candidate must successfully complete a rigorous 520 Hour theoretical and experiential graduate-level Certification Program in Laban Movement Studies at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS®) headquartered in New York City, or at an off-site LIMS®-affiliated program location.

A CMA uses the Laban/Bartenieff System as a framework for structural, spatial, rhythmic, shape and dynamic components in human movement observation, synthesis, and analysis. From an LMA/BF perspective, a CMA possesses an acute understanding of a specific movement event and its complexity and context. A CMA:

  • Appreciates the functional and expressive aspects of human movement and perceives the interpretive/subjective processes that take place through movement.
  • Understands and appreciates an individual’s movement pat
    terns and relates to and works with that in mind.
  • Refines and expands one’s movement repertoire by deepening movement awareness and understanding, and by providing the experience of a global range of movement within diverse environments.
  • Assesses human movement within an individual, group, cultural, situational and environmental contexts.
  • Has an understanding of their own and others’ movement style within a variety of contexts, including social interaction.
  • Has the knowledge and ability to verbally articulate and physically demonstrate the LMA concepts of Body, Effort, Shape, and Space from both broad and discreet perspectives.
  • Is able to verbally articulate and physically demonstrate the basic principles of Bartenieff Fundamentalssm, along with their theoretical and practical relationship to LMA.
  • Has the ability to develop and apply theory in practice in diverse fields.
  • Has training in observing, recording and interpreting movement data using Motif, phrase writing, and recording from digital and live observation.