Laban International Courses (L.in.C) was established in 1978 and ran its first Summer School in 1979. There had been annual Laban Summer Schools in the 1940’s under the heading of ‘Modern Dance Holiday Courses’. The Courses then became part of ‘the Laban Art of Movement Studio’ outreach and continued until 1978. The Laban Summer Schools had been well attended by students from many countries and provided a melting pot of dance traditions and ideas. When ‘the Studio’ was scheduled for closure, functions moved to Goldsmiths College merging with contemporary dance, in its new venue now known as ‘Laban’.

Sam and Susi Thornton did not want the tradition of the Laban Courses to disappear. After all they had been continuously running since 1940.* With the help of a small loan, they established Laban International Courses with Lisa Ullmann as Artistic Director and Su and Bill Johnston as consultants. L.in.C ’79 was held at Dartford College, the site of previous courses. Over the following years L.in.C has continued to offer a unique dance and movement experience every summer. They have offered the camaraderie, sharing, creativity of Laban’s Dance Farms. Although the course has moved home a few times the ‘Laban Spirit’ has always been present offering the opportunity for challenging and exciting work to take place.

L.in.C’s first artistic director was Lisa Ullmann, founder and former director of the Laban Art of Movement Studio firstly in Manchester and in 1953 moving to Addlestone, Surrey. Lisa was a long term associate and collaborator of Rudolf Laban. She fulfilled her artistic directorship of L.in.C with great energy and enthusiasm until her death in 1986. This post was filled by Sam Thornton, former Senior Lecturer at the Laban Art of Movement Studio, supported by his wife, Susi, trained by Lisa. They have been ably supported by creative and gifted colleagues, steeped in knowledge of Laban work, each one developing their knowledge and expertise into different directions such as: authorship, business, choreography, clowning, dance creative arts, drama, education, personal growth, physical theatre, philosophy, professional dance, sacred geometry, somatics,