AUNE Professor Susan Loman Debuts Video Project on Kestenberg Movement Profile

Susan Loman, core faculty in the Department of Applied Psychology and program director of Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, spent her spring 2015 sabbatical developing a series of videos which show examples of movement patterns in the Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP) as observed in children six years of age and younger. As the project continues to develop, it is expected to result in a wide range of real-life examples of KMP movement patterns, seen in both children and adults, and will serve as a supplemental learning tool.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Mb_wWaRRLdQ[/youtube]

Essentially, KMP relies on the belief that the mind, emotions, and body are a closely integrated, mutually interacting system, and so by observing the body one can learn about the mind. The body and its manner of moving not only reveal aspects of current feelings and emotions, but can give us insight into an individual’s past. Because both physical and emotional experiences leave long term traces upon the way people hold themselves and move, the study of movement opens a door to the study of patterns of early development, coping strategies, and personality configurations.

KMP was developed by Judith Kestenberg and her colleagues (The Sands Point Study Group) after years spent observing children and adults. Its structure and focus are based on the psychological profile developed by Anna Freud, with a strong emphasis on development. Its movement language is based on the Laban System of Movement Analysis with modifications adaptive to its psychological focus.

Loman drew inspiration from two KMP colleagues she collaborated closely with on this project: Melanie Johnson and Kara Serasis. To view the videos and learn more about the project, visit: and Flyer About KMP Video Project