Sticks: Bound Flow

 BOUND FLOW

Bound flow allows for movement in a more controlled way. 

Bound flow is described as more firm and with boundaries. 

It's about keeping emotions in and contained.

Review: Effort

Laban's model of effort allows many subtle analyses and understandings. His four Effort Factors are defined, each ranging across two opposite Effort Elements:

• Space Effort considers focus or awareness, ranging from direct to indirect or flexible;
  
• Weight Effort considers pressure, force, or sensitivity, ranging from strength to lightness;
  
• Time Effort considers speed or slowing of the pace, ranging from quick to sustained.
  
• Flow Effort considers the control of movement, ranging from bound or controlled to free or released. 

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Exercise

Students were given a wooden stick. 

They began to play with the wooden stick by using in any way they wanted (as a weapon, as tool, as a symbol). 

The alternating of the hands as they penetrated the space with the stick created a sense of controlled arm flow.

This sense of controlled flow is necessary for the student to embody the quality of bound flow.

The second part of the exercise, they would let go of the stick and now move their arms as if they were still holding it.

That reference made them continue pulling and pushing the imaginary stick as they alternated arms.

The result was a noticeable increase in arm movement with a sense of controlled flow they never experienced before.

Source:
The Three Factors of Movement: Time, Effort and Flow