BP - Introduction to Movement (Lesson)

Introduction to Movement

As with the voice, it is necessary for the actor to learn how to explore the use of the body in order to tell stories physically on stage. This is, after all, how the actor accomplishes the being seen portion of the performance. Non-verbal communication is communication without the use of spoken language. This includes gestures, facial expressions, and body positions. In this lesson, students will gain an understanding of how the actor can adjust the use of the body to convey different aspects of a character. Through physical warm-ups and exercises, actors will be able to explore the connection to the ground body isolations, movement in terms of weight, speed, and direction, and body leading.  

Physical Warm-Ups

Start with a physical warm-up. The purpose of a physical warm-up is to wake up the body and focus the mind in order to create the character.

Please watch the following video about physical warm-ups. Be sure to participate along with the video. 

Actor Neutral

Once the warm-up is complete, the actor should start from a neutral stance.  A neutral body is one that is awake and alert but divorced from the physical habits or tension that the actor carries naturally. A neutral stance includes a straight body, arms at the sides, head up, breathing softly, and eyes open and alert. A neutral movement is one in which the body is straight, arms at the sides, moving at a consistent measured pace, eyes up, aware of everyone around you, breathing softly, and no talking.

Building from Neutral

Posture is the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting. The following physical exercises will allow the actor to explore the emotional effects of changing the physical posture of a character.

This change in posture will greatly affect the way in which the character gestures.  A gesture is an expressive bodily action, such as shrugging, pointing, or raising eyebrows. 

Isolations and Body Leading Exercises

Click on the images below to learn more about different types of exercises.

Character Entrances

A character’s entrance is like a first impression. It signifies to the audience who a character is and generally what their energy is likely to be. It also can function as a tool for the actor to create the world of the scene from the very first step on stage.

Character Entrances: Make sure you enter IN character always. Head up, shoulders in position, except if your character deems otherwise. Know the exact moment you are supposed to be seen and don’t enter sooner. 

Make character decisions about the following aspects of movement necessary for an entrance:

• Walking: What kind of walking might your character have? Slow? Fast? A limp?  
• Standing: Keep your weight on the balls of your feet and your knees slightly bent. If you are pacing back and forth or bouncing or wobbling you may look nervous on stage.
• Turning: Always turn toward the audience unless it is awkward.
• Sitting: How would your character sit? Are you in a position that you can get up easily out of? Don’t slouch unless that is your character.
• Rising: How do you rise from a chair safely without falling?
• Gesturing: All gestures should be definite and clear so we understand them as your character. 

Where does your character lead from? -Head? Teeth? Nose? Belly?

Laban Movement Categories

Laban movement is a method and language of describing, visualizing, interrupting, and documenting human movement. The four components of Laban movements are DIRECTION (direct or indirect), SPEED (quick or sustained), WEIGHT (heavy or light), and FLOW (bound or free). 

For example: If you are painting a wall you would use free, broad and sweeping strokes with a large brush. Think rolling a wall with paint (FREE).
If you were painting a window frame, you would employ a steady hand, take more careful strokes and try not to get any paint on the glass (BOUND).

Introduction to Movement Self-Assessment

Complete the following activity to review the content discussed in this lesson. 

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