Efforts

We explored the 8 efforts. This is the idea that these efforts "together make up the complete human potential of ways in which we function", so these 8 efforts describe how each human moves or functions.

We started off by drawing out a box with our hands. We explored this box with our hands. We added to this the 8 efforts. So we explored the box with Light/Flexible/Sustained movements, using not only our hands but our whole bodies. We moved through the 8 efforts and exploring the difference in weight.

The eight efforts are:

1. Flicking: Flexible, Sudden, Light

2. Wringing: Flexible, Sustained, Strong

3. Dabbing: Direct, Sudden, Light

4. Punching: Direct, Sudden, Strong

5. Floating: Flexible, Sustained, Light

6. Slashing: Sudden, Strong, Flexible

7. Gliding: Sustained, Light, Direct

8. Pressing: Direct, Sustained, Strong

It was interesting to see how each effort felt so different from each other. Pressing and Slashing I found had the most memorable weight. I found myself becoming exhausted whilst doing this as you spent a lot of energy focusing on the strong feel of both pressing and slashing. In comparison Gliding and Floating were light and easy. I found it interesting to link these efforts with how a character may talk, it's a useful skill to use and can help you to understand your character deeper and can make it easier to get into your characters head. It helps the actor to keep an eye on the performance element.

Laban Efforts graph