Deeper Not Broader: In Pursuit of an Actor Training Language to Elicit Nuance and Complexity in Motion Capture Performance

The theories of Rudolf Laban (1879–1958), a pioneer in movement and dance, are often integrated into actor-training programs all over the world to assist the student in the development of the psycho–physical actor. As Laban states, we ‘move to satisfy a need’ (Laban, 2011, p. v). At Flinders University in South Australia, Laban-based methodologies are the foundation of the Movement Studies program delivered within the Bachelor of Performance (Acting). Laban’s theories and taxonomies are used in conjunction with other performance theories in the development of fundamental and expressive performance skills. This chapter will examine how Laban-based methodologies are being used in The Void, the motion and performance capture studio at Flinders University. Specifically, this chapter will detail how Laban-based theories are seeking to animate psychologically complex avatars.