Rudolf Laban was one of the leading dance theorists of the twentieth century. His work on dance analysis and notation raised the status of dance as both an art form and a scholarly discipline. This is the first book to combine:

• an overview of Laban's life, work and in uences
• an exploration of his key ideas, including the revolutionary "Laban Movement Analysis" system
• analysis of his works Die Grünen Clowns and The Mastery of Movement and their relevance to dance theater from the 1920s onwards
• a detailed exercise-based breakdown of Laban's key teachings.

As a first step towards critical understanding, and as an initial exploration before going on to further, primary research, Routledge Performance Practitioners are unbeatable value for today's student.

Karen K. Bradley is Associate Professor Emerita in Dance at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a Certified Movement Analyst in Laban Movement Analysis.

List of gures

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. LABAN'S CORE: BIOGRAPHY

2. ANALYSIS OF A TEXT, THE MASTERY OF MOVEMENT

3. THE TANZTHEATER AND ANALYSIS OF A WORK

4. MASTERY OF MOVEMENT FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY PERFORMER

Afterpiece

Bibliography

Index