do you want to become an expert in dance and, therefore, you are looking for what is the kinesphere? have you ever been to a dance class and heard the word and wondered what it means? Well, we have great news for you, because here we will reveal the mystery!
In this new article from , we will discover who created the kinesphere, what is the kinesphere and what is its importance in dance. You will see that it is a central and basic concept that transcends the realm of dance.
say no more! get your dancing shoes ready and let’s get started!
who created the kinesphere?
Before we dive fully into what the kinesphere is and what its importance is in dance, why not find out who created this concept?
The creator of the kinesphere was Rudolf Laban. If you’ve read anything about dance, you’re probably familiar with his name, because Laban created the Central European School of Modern Dance and studied architecture in Paris, specifically at l’École des Beaux Arts. There he studied what we know as “kinesphere” and studied the process of movements.
All of Laban’s biographers agree that he was a very particular character, and that he was interested in very diverse fields pursuing the same objective: to study human movement.the knowledge and findings of Laban, with its analysis of movement, not only can be applied to dance but also to sociology, sport, anthropology, among other fields and disciplines of application.
The human body, according to Laban, is contained in an imaginary sphere, whose points of intersection of the directions form the cusps of the body that possesses something of the sphere and the cube, and which he called icosahedron.
Inside the icosahedron, man can execute movements and steps following three directions: from front to back, from bottom to top and from right to left.
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what is the kinesphere?
Now that you know who Laban is and why it is so important to mention him when talking about the kinesphere, let’s look at what the kinesphere is. Basically, it is the space surrounding the body, in the form of a three-dimensional sphere. It is also known as “partial space”.
Therefore, if the limbs of a body are stretched, a circumference can be imagined to be drawn with these points in mind. Of course, if the body in question moves, the kinesphere moves with it.
You are probably getting a much clearer idea of what the relationship between the kinesphere and dance is. That’s why, in the next section, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about what the kinesphere is in dance.
Source: Pexels
what is the kinesphere in dance?
Well, we are not yet mind readers but it is very likely that, perhaps, you are wondering what is the kinesphere in dance and what relationship they have. In truth, each dancer is inside this “bubble”, a three-dimensional spherical container that surrounds him, thus establishing the necessary distance from the other dancers to deploy their movements.
Of course, this space depends on each individual, that is, depending on the physical characteristics of the dancers, the imaginary spheres may be larger or smaller than others. But, within the kinesphere, there is also another figure, the polyhedron, where three primary directions are linked, among them, the vertical (up-down), which provides that sense of balance.
Now that you know what the kinesphere is and what is its link with dance, let’s review its importance.
Source: Pexels
what are the types of space?
Since the kinesphere has to do with spaces, let’s discover what are the types of space that exist and that we can find in dance:
1. Personal space
One of the types of space to take into account is the one that goes from the skin to the inside of the body. This space is called personal. Therefore, it is related to the interior, to intimacy, to sensations and pains. It is perhaps one of the most unnoticed spaces, but it is still important.
2. Partial space
Partial space is the space from the skin of a person to the outside, for example, when a dancer stretches a limb.
3. Total space
This total space is the fusion of the previous ones we mentioned and is present in the daily life of all people, whether they are dancers or not.
4. Social space
Another space that we can also mention is the social space and has to do with the social relationships that people establish and how spaces are shared with them.
5. Scenic space
And, if we go to the subject of the question that is dance, we could also talk about the scenic space, where there is a “spectator eye” that is attentive to the rhythmic and artistic movement of those who are dancing on stage.
In short, the concept of space takes on a fundamental importance in the kinesphere. For Laban, as recounted in the book Laban for Actors and Dancers, “our bodies move space, they move in space, and movement in space exists in ourselves.”
Source: Pexels
what is the importance of the kinesphere?
When it comes to dance, the kinesphere takes on a remarkable importance. Here, it is not only a question of knowing what the kinesphere is in dance, but also why it is relevant in dance. This is because it is the space of each dancer, which allows him to move within a certain radius so as not to get in the way of the rest. At the same time, there are also choreographies that seek the fusion of the kinespheres and, therefore, two dancers find themselves sharing the same imaginary sphere.
In this way, the importance of the kinesphere lies in the harmonization of movements, the sensation of balance and the possibility of “breaking the rules” or transgressing spaces.
But Laban was also looking for the harmony of movement in space. As explained in the book Mastering Movement: The life and work of Rudolf Laban, the dancer must connect the body effectively and harmoniously in the kinesphere.
Source: Pexels
what are the levels of the kinesphere?
do you already know by heart the definition of what the kinesphere is because you have taken a liking to the subject? who hasn’t? So here are the 3 levels of the kinesphere to keep in mind:
1. High level
A clear example of this level is when dancers do jumps.
2. Medium level
In this level of space we all find ourselves when we walk, whether in the city, in the countryside or wherever. It is the intermediate level between high and low.
3. Low level
As for the low level, as the third of the levels of the kinesphere that we have not yet reviewed, we can represent it in a dancer when his body is stretched out on the floor.
Source: Pexels
what are the elements of the kinesphere?
Movement in the kinesphere is composed of three fundamental elements on which the Laban System is based: space, time and energy. Let’s see what each one is about.
1. Space
According to Laban, space is conceived from the body of the person in movement and its limits, which are delimited, as we said before, by the normal radius of action of the members of the body at its maximum extension.
The space of the kinesphere, in turn, has three dimensions: vertical, horizontal and transverse, corresponding respectively to height, width and depth. This space, the kinesphere, is where movement happens, for example dance, and can be direct or indirect.
Movements are directed in this space following twelve directions, which are obtained by combining the three dimensions:
Vertical (up-down)
Horizontal (left-right)
Transversal (front-back)
In this way, the following directions of movement in the kinesphere are obtained :
Up-right
Down-back
Left-front
Down-right
Up-back
Right-front
Down-left
Up-front
Right-back
Up-left
Down-front
Left-back
2. Time
Laban defined movement according to three fundamental characteristics: duration, speed and rhythm. The combination of these three factors is what contributes to the richness in the expression of dance, or other artistic expressions.
Time in dance movement can be fast or slow.
3. The energy
Another key element in Laban’s theory of the kinesphere is energy, conceived as a fundamental element in the expression of movement. Basically , what Laban was expressing was that the awareness of weight allows the person to overcome the force of gravity and thus vary the dynamism of the movement. Energy can be strong or weak.
Different combinations of the elements of movement and the kinesphere give rise to different possible actions, for example:
Sliding: soft weight, slow time, direct space.
Float: soft weight, slow time, indirect space.
Shake: soft weight, fast time, indirect space.
Lighttouching: soft weight, fast time, direct space.
Source: Pexels
in what other areas is the kinesphere important?
So far we have seen what the kinesphere is and its importance in dance, but this theory related to space is also applied in other areas.
To begin with, we must remember that another field where Laban had a lot of influence was architecture. In fact, Laban compared the human body to an architectural construction: both the structure and the dancer’s body are in continuous exchange with the environment.
The field of sports was also influenced by the concept of the kinesphere. Many disciplines set boundaries in the space of each player as part of the rules of the game.
Finally, we can also name the field of body expression as another area directly related to the theory of the kinesphere.
After all, the kinesphere is present from the moment we are born: babies begin to know their personal space through small movements. First, they relate to their room, and then, gradually, they get to know the world.
Source: Pexels
are there still excuses for not getting into the world of dance? do you want to share with your friends what the kinesphere is all about and invite them to take some dance classes together? or, perhaps, you have discovered that your profession and your passion are directed towards dance? Whatever your case, start creating your dream map and work towards achieving your dreams!