Contact Improvisation

Current teaching focal point

Over the years, like most contacters, especially teachers, I've tried to distill from all the possibilities, the few most basic ingredients, qualities or skills that make for a great dance. So, definitions of what a great dance is aside for the moment, here are the top three things I've come up with for now. My primary concern, in all my life situations, is to promote non-violence and freedom to explore what is alive to you in the moment. Follow your curiosity is my motto.

Allowing the dance to dance itself. . This means waiting for the connection to develop. Waiting for movement to come from connection. It also means simple things like, if you're body surfing, letting the supporting person move you and just relaxing into it. Relaxing and letting yourself be supported is a very simple way of creating deeper connection. Don't try too hard! The attitude of allowing and waiting often leads to a deep connection wherein some very wild, athletic dancing can happen with maximum relative safety and ease.

Tension masks sensation. In order to sense your relationship to gravity, you have to be relaxed. A relaxed body is also more prepared to respond to the unpredictability of improvisation. So this means having just the right amount of tone for the situation. Being completely limp when that is useful and having some tone when that is useful. Thus, awareness and choice around use of muscle is necessary. It also means having a calm nervous system. Allowing bones to support weight. Sinking through soft tissue to find the support of bones. Having a relaxed body will allow you to react softly and instantly if you should happen to make accidental contact, let's say with foot to face! Softness creates safety and ease.

Awareness of center. Having an awareness of the entire pelvic region and belly and how it affects movement is primary to contact. If you're having a stumbly dance, there is a very good chance it's because you are holding tension in your hips. We're always relating to our partners center of gravity whether we are aware of it or not. So having awareness of this area of our own and our partners bodies is paramount when the dance gets more athletic. For instance, what does moving your head a half-inch to the right do to your center of gravity? This kind of awareness can open up a whole new world of possibility and subtlety. I've also found that if I'm having body tension or pain, movement that comes from, is motivated by, my physical center (pelvis, sit bones, belly, colon, etc.) will often eliminate the pain and create inspired fun and surprising movement.