Rudolf Laban, a movement theorist, developed eight movements that give performers a “clear and understandable toolset that will enable them to grow their movement vocabulary and discover new ways to physicalize character” (Espeland, 2015 p.1). Laban categorizes human movement into four components;

• Direction
• Weight
• Speed
• Flow

Each movement is expanded into two elements

• Direction can be direct or indirect
• Weight can be heavy or light
• Speed is quick or sustained
• Flow can be bound or free

(Laban n.d. as cited by Espeland, 2015).

Using the four components and elements, Laban created specific movement prompts named the Eight Efforts.

Laban’s Eight Efforts are:

• Punch
• Dab
• Press
• Glide
• Float
• Slash
• Flick
• Wring