Laban's Eight Effort Actions Warm-Up

A creative movement warm-up in which students travel through the space using Laban's eight effort actions: press, punch, float, glide, wring, flick, slash, and dab. It warms up the whole body and expands students' range of movement qualities before they create.

How to play

1. The group walks freely around the room to soft music, filling the space without talking (1 min).
2. The teacher names and models an action and everyone does it for 30 seconds while walking: press, punch, float, and glide (2 min).
3. Second set: wring, slash, flick, and dab, also 30 seconds each (2 min).
4. In pairs, one does an action and the other answers with its opposite (float vs. punch, glide vs. slash) for 2 min.
5. Wrap-up (1 min): each student picks two actions and links them into an 8-count phrase to show their partner.

Rules

• Stay two arm lengths away from everyone else.
• Strong actions (punch, slash) are done in the air, with no contact.
• When the music stops, everyone freezes.
• No talking or commenting on what others are doing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: perform the actions with arms, torso, and head from the wheelchair.
• Shyness: start facing away from the center of the room and in small groups.
• Lower fitness: alternate strong actions with light ones and walk during breaks.

Learning goals

• Tell actions apart by weight, time, and space.
• Warm up the body with large, varied movements.
• Link actions into a movement phrase.

Equipment for a class of 25

• music: 1

Teacher tip

Pair each action with a concrete image (wringing out a wet towel, dabbing a wall in the dark); it helps shy students loosen up. Use instrumental music without lyrics.

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