What is Contact Improvisation?
Contact Improvisation is an evolving system of movement initiated in 1972 by American choreographer Steve Paxton. This improvised dance form is based on the communication between two moving bodies that are in physical contact and their relationship to the physical laws that govern their motion. The body, in order to open to these sensations, learns to release excess muscular tension and abandon a certain quality of willfulness to experience the natural flow of movement. Practice includes rolling, falling, being upside down, following a physical point of contact, supporting and giving weight to a partner.
What is a Jam?
Contact Jams are open gatherings where people come together to practice contact, ranging from weekly gatherings to weekend or week-long retreat gatherings. Contact Jams may be facilitated or unfacilitated, having no central instructor or guide.
Contact Improvisation Classes and Jams in Wellington
Contact classes run weekly at the dance studio at Toi Poneke Arts Centre on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. They are for beginner, intermediate and professional dancers who want to dance Contact. Classes will give you a physical vocabulary, an ability to dance with others safely and confidently, broaden your movement repertory & prepare you for dancing in Contact jams.
Jams start at 7.30pm and run until 8.30pm. We have a closing circle until 8.45pm. If you have not danced Contact before it is recommended you attend classes before attending a contact jam. Classes are followed by a contact jam which is open to dancers with experience of Contact Improvisation.
Class includes:
Alignment; safety whilst dancing; rolling techniques; moving in and out of the floor; supports, distribution of weight and contact through all surface areas of the body; your relationship to the floor and space; falling: giving and receiving weight; moving supports; moving from the ground to standing and traveling with a partner; the Small Dance; sloughing and sliding; rolling a point; counterbalances; lifts; tables; the Underscore; the Senses and Contact; Round Robin; entering and leaving the dance; developing trust in Contact; imagery...
What to wear?
Wear comfortable dance/yoga clothes eg leggings and top/t shirt and bring water to drink.
Admin and contact person: Juliet Shelley
0211 564 082 motionbeing@gmail.com