- About Contact Improvisation:
Contact Improvisation (CI) is a dance form that uses the sense of touch as a mean to connecting with one’ s self and others’. In CI, the moving bodies move almost as one using the effects of gravity, momentum, inertia and breathing for their dance. Excess muscular tension is avoided and a natural flow of movement with minimal effort is created. CI is a technique highlighting the need for coexistence and acceptance, contrasting social norms and challenging elitism, hierarchies, social taboos and stereotypes not only of the dance sphere but also of society.
As its’ name indicates, contact and improvisation are very important aspects of the technique. Contact meaning either eye contact, conscious awareness of the other, physical contact with the other, general contact with one’s surroundings. Improvisation captures the idea that the technique is not about executing a set material of movement but rather about tuning in and listening to how the bodies want to move during specific time and in specific environments. CI entails rolling and falling, going off balance and negotiating weight and leadership. Those are result of the contact element and improvisational character of the technique.
Furthermore, CI seeks to relocate the focus of attention from the outside to the inside, meaning for the people engage in it to develop a deeper understanding of what is happening within them, without however ignoring their fellow movers. Paradoxically, it is through this internalization process that the movers are able not only to tune with themselves but also with each other. Subsequently, simplicity and avoidance of any extra and unnecessary movement are also characteristics of the technique. CI started from a need to address dance to everyone and not just elite dancers. Following this premise, it is practiced both by professional dancers and not. Among other things, it can be used as a therapeutic tool, addressing disable and/or marginalized communities or individuals facing psychological difficulties. It can also be a tool for general personal growth and awareness.
Following the basic ideas of Contact Theory (Allport, 1954) from the field of Social Psychology, these workshops bring people together under equal status and encourage them to work together for the purposes of a goal, in this case: movement.
- References and Resources – Further information on CI and Intergroup Contact Theory:
Curtis, J. (2015). Movement in the men’s movement: contact improvisation and social change. Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices, 7(1), 129-142.
Everett, J. A. (2013). Intergroup contact theory: Past, present, and future. The Inquisitive Mind, 2(17), 1-6.
Houston, S. (2009). The touch ‘taboo’ and the art of contact: an exploration of Contact Improvisation for prisoners. Research in Dance Education, 10(2), 97-113.
Novack, C. J. (1988). Looking at movement as culture: Contact improvisation to disco. TDR (1988-), 32(4), 102-119.
Pettigrew, T. F. (1998). Intergroup contact theory. Annual review of psychology, 49(1), 65-85.
Turner, R. (2010). Steve Paxton’s “Interior Techniques”: Contact Improvisation and Political Power. TDR/The Drama Review, 54(3), 123-135.
- During the CI Workshops- General tips for the educator:
*In these workshops, we primarily use the sense of touch and the participants are in contact with the bodies of other people. Facilitators should keep in mind, that prospective participants may follow certain ideologies/religions etc which will hinder them from following the workshop. Therefore, participants should be clearly informed in advance about the nature of the workshop. In case of participants who due to their personal beliefs are not at ease with touch, you can pair the people into same-sex people or limit the workshop to the exercises that involve less physical contact.
* Participants and facilitator(s) should come in comfortable clothes and during the workshop it is suggested that they are barefoot.
* It is suggested that these workshops are conducted with music. Given the multicultural nature of the workshops, music can come from different cultural backgrounds, or participants could suggest music for the activities. Due to the nature of the workshop, a room with a soft floor (for example wooden or linoleum floor) would be desirable.
*At the beginning of the workshop, facilitator is encouraged to warmly greet the participants and briefly introduce them to the workshop. When introducing the workshop, make sure that you mention to the participants that this is a safe space where they can feel free to express themselves, bodies and thoughts. There is no right or wrong and mistakes are allowed and desirable. They should respect all the other participants and treat everybody equally. Everyone cares for everyone in the workshop and make sure that their partners’ safety is ensured. They should also be reinsured that whatever happens within the workshop, remains in the workshop. If at any point they do not feel comfortable with something, they can always discuss it with the rest of the group. Participants should be encouraged to keep verbal communication to the minimum during the main part of the workshop in order to keep the energy within from the body and it increase physical communication and coordination, which is what we aim for in the workshop.
*Before an exercise/activity, facilitator can be explaining and demonstrating the activity with the help of one participant or another facilitator. This will make it easier for the participants to understand the nature of the activity.
*Gently make sure that participants are not partnering only with members of the ingroup and that they are not continually partnering with the same people. In larger groups, make sure that there is a diversity in the group of participants. That is, it will be better if participants cooperate with people of different nationality, religion, gender etc. This will ensure that diversity of the participants is being used in favour of the projects aims.
*It will be easier for the participants to work on the activities if they are paired up with more or less similar body types with their own. For example, it will be easier to execute the activities if there is not a great height difference or weight difference between the partners. Usually the centre of gravity for people with different body types is different, so if there is a big difference between partners, they should put some extra effort to find how they can make the exercise/activity work for them.