Contact Improvisation
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What is Contact Improvisation?
Contact improvisation (CI) is a movement form, improvisational by nature, created by the dialogue of two bodies in contact. Impulses, weight and momentum are communicated through a point of physical contact that continuously rolls across and around the bodies of the dancers.
The body, in order to open to these sensations, learns to release tension and abandon a certain willfulness to experience the natural flow of movement. Practices including rolling, falling, being upside down, supporting and giving weight to a partner. Alertness is developped in order to work in a state of physical desorientation, trusting in one’s survival instincts. It is a free play with balance, bringing a physical/ emotionnal truth about a shared moment of movement that leaves the participants centered and enlivened. (Steve Paxton, quoted by Nancy Stark Smith in «Caught Falling»).
The mode of movement is relaxed, constantly aware and onflowing. The dancers remain in physical touch, mutually supportive and innovative. They do not strive to achieve results, but rather to meet constantly physical reality with appropriate placement and energy. (short cuts from Steve Paxton, founder of CI in 1972).
Simone Forti called it an «art sport». Most people practice it because it feels good and not because it looks nice. But in the same time, we work on the technique to develop easiness in the moves and when it is flowing, it is also amazing to watch it. For people who see it for the first time, its freedom may evoque children or animal playing together.
Trusting the unknown
Contact improvisation is a dance form that invites our body and mind to be present and open to everything that might happened. The movers let the physical forces such as gravity and momentum lead them into the unknown. Since no one is leading the dance, each of them engage deeply in a non verbal communication, which allows for something common to take over and guide them through space. This requires a willingness to listen and the ability to let go of expectations.
My classes mainly start with a focus on one’s state of being in order to prepare and awaken the body. We release tensions, sharpen perceptions and senses, connect and feel centered before establishing communication with others.
Following this, we work on basic technique to develop ease and fluidity in moves such as rolling, soft falling, supporting and giving weight to a partner. We also play with balance, developping confidence in dissorientation, and learn to trust and follow the dance that grows in the present moment through the listening to a partner and to one’s own impulses.
Then, I like to incorporate other improvisational skills and compositional aspects, in order to bring awareness for the space and allow group dynamics to occur.
What is Contact Improvisation?
Contact improvisation (CI) is a movement form, improvisational by nature, created by the dialogue of two bodies in contact. Impulses, weight and momentum are communicated through a point of physical contact that continuously rolls across and around the bodies of the dancers.
The body, in order to open to these sensations, learns to release tension and abandon a certain willfulness to experience the natural flow of movement. Practices including rolling, falling, being upside down, supporting and giving weight to a partner. Alertness is developped in order to work in a state of physical desorientation, trusting in one’s survival instincts. It is a free play with balance, bringing a physical/ emotionnal truth about a shared moment of movement that leaves the participants centered and enlivened. (Steve Paxton, quoted by Nancy Stark Smith in «Caught Falling»).
The mode of movement is relaxed, constantly aware and onflowing. The dancers remain in physical touch, mutually supportive and innovative. They do not strive to achieve results, but rather to meet constantly physical reality with appropriate placement and energy. (short cuts from Steve Paxton, founder of CI in 1972).
Simone Forti called it an «art sport». Most people practice it because it feels good and not because it looks nice. But in the same time, we work on the technique to develop easiness in the moves and when it is flowing, it is also amazing to watch it. For people who see it for the first time, its freedom may evoque children or animal playing together.
Trusting the unknown
Contact improvisation is a dance form that invites our body and mind to be present and open to everything that might happened. The movers let the physical forces such as gravity and momentum lead them into the unknown. Since no one is leading the dance, each of them engage deeply in a non verbal communication, which allows for something common to take over and guide them through space. This requires a willingness to listen and the ability to let go of expectations.
My classes mainly start with a focus on one’s state of being in order to prepare and awaken the body. We release tensions, sharpen perceptions and senses, connect and feel centered before establishing communication with others.
Following this, we work on basic technique to develop ease and fluidity in moves such as rolling, soft falling, supporting and giving weight to a partner. We also play with balance, developping confidence in dissorientation, and learn to trust and follow the dance that grows in the present moment through the listening to a partner and to one’s own impulses.
Then, I like to incorporate other improvisational skills and compositional aspects, in order to bring awareness for the space and allow group dynamics to occur.
Next Workshops, Festivals and Jams
- See calendar
- In the desert in Morocco, contact improvisation, butoh and yoga in nature, more information here.
Contact improvisation in nature - click here
Contact Improvisation in water - click here
Video: "Ménage à 3", performance with Manou Blanchard, Lior Ophir & Elske Seidel in Israel
Links : www.adrianrussi.com and www.contactimprovisation.ch
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