Laban/Bartenieff
"All Movement is based on Breath."
— Rudolf Laban
As a Certified Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst, Lisa Billingham is the first choral conductor in the United States to complete the certification program. She uses Laban/Bartenieff Fundamentals as a way to inspire her students to explore the mind/body connection in themselves and the
choirs they conduct.
Laban
Training in Laban Bartenieff Movement Theory (LBMT) expands the conducting gesture set and the ability to be open in gesture and attitude with an ensemble. Obtaining Certification in Laban Bartenieff concepts through the Integrated Movement Studies Program allows the students training in the program the flexibility to move with intentional expression in rehearsals and life.
The application of Laban Bartenieff Fundamentals to conducting and rehearsal technique is the focus of Dr. Billingham’s research in her teaching position at George Mason University. Our movement patterns define us and learning to move and teach with body awareness can change how we are perceived.
Follow this link to the Laban Bartenieff Conducting Youtube Channel.
The Complete Conductor's Guide to Laban Movement Theory by Lisa A. Billingham
This textbook is a thoughtful and practical introduction to Laban’s life and theories, perfect for conductors seeking to better connect their understanding of a musical score to their actions on the podium. Sections include: A brief history of Laban, a series of practical movement exercises for the body, developing stylistic artistry through creative movement, Laban’s techniques for exploring space, explaining body movement potential, relating conducting movements to musical expression.
"As conductors, we are fortunate to have ways to express ourselves from the mind through the body to the artistic moment in relationship to an ensemble" - Lisa Billingham
Bartenieff
Irmgard Bartenieff was a student of Laban and created her Fundamentals to further develop the Body aspect of Laban Movement Theory. Bartenieff was the mentor for Peggy Hackney, who teaches these concepts in the Integrated Movement Studies Program at the University of Utah. In her book Making Connections, Peggy Hackney explains the fine art of connecting function to expression: "Whether one is a dancer, an actor, athlete or business person, a fully functioning expressive body increases life's possibilities." As a student of Peggy Hackney and Janice Meaden, Lisa Billingham is continuing to explore the applications of this expressive work to the art of conducting. Studying this theory has changed every aspect of her life.