Connecting (Literally) through Contact Improvisation
In pre-pandemic times, CSW was probably one of the only high schools in the country to offer Contact Improvisation in its curriculum. For that matter, CSW is one of only a small group of high schools that offer a comprehensive dance program.
For those not familiar with Contact Improvisation (CI); it was developed in the 1970’s as an alternative to more rigid, hierarchical dance forms. There is no director; everyone equally shares weight exchanges; there is no “choreography”; and it is usually, though not always, practiced in silence. Because the participants are focused on each other, performing is not really the point. The audience, if there is one, is invited to “come see what we do”.
CI was one of my favorite courses to teach. Not only is CI great fun, but the empowerment that it gives to students is so rewarding. The daily journals that the students keep are full of revelations about responsibility, trust and safety. It may be a while before CI can be offered again, for obvious reasons, but its
absence is significant, as CI offers ways of finding connections between people that few other disciplines do, and we need that.
CI is literal “leaning in”. If I lean on you and you move away, I fall down. If you
walk up to someone and lean on them, they will usually pull away. Not so within
the contact class. The whole point is to share weight because that is how we can
move together without a pre-planned set of moves. That is how we give literal
and figurative support to one another. We have to be trustworthy partners.
Dancing in CI is realized through mutual pressure. As we move through space, we
each are “listening” to the pressure from the other. It’s not about “seeing”; it’s
about sensation. No matter where our bodies are connected (head, hip, shoulder,
even a fingertip, etc.) we play with the forces of pressure, centrifugal force, and
gravity.
Part of the pleasure of teaching CI was seeing my students become courageous.
They start out with exercises close to the floor and gradually become comfortable
with falling, rolling, sliding, launching into a partner’s arms or onto another’s
back. They fly on each other’s shoulders and slide down, spiraling to the floor.
CI was one of my favorite courses to teach. Not only is CI great fun, but the empowerment that it gives to students is so rewarding. The daily journals that the students keep are full of revelations about responsibility, trust and safety. It may be a while before CI can be offered again, for obvious reasons, but its
absence is significant, as CI offers ways of finding connections between people that few other disciplines do, and we need that.
CI is literal “leaning in”. If I lean on you and you move away, I fall down. If you
walk up to someone and lean on them, they will usually pull away. Not so within
the contact class. The whole point is to share weight because that is how we can
move together without a pre-planned set of moves. That is how we give literal
and figurative support to one another. We have to be trustworthy partners.
Dancing in CI is realized through mutual pressure. As we move through space, we
each are “listening” to the pressure from the other. It’s not about “seeing”; it’s
about sensation. No matter where our bodies are connected (head, hip, shoulder,
even a fingertip, etc.) we play with the forces of pressure, centrifugal force, and
gravity.
Part of the pleasure of teaching CI was seeing my students become courageous.
They start out with exercises close to the floor and gradually become comfortable
with falling, rolling, sliding, launching into a partner’s arms or onto another’s
back. They fly on each other’s shoulders and slide down, spiraling to the floor.
They form duets, trios and groups, always sensing the physical dynamics and
needs of the other movers. I miss the laughter and giggles when we explore more
connections and find new ways of moving together. The combinations are
endless.
My hope is that in the not-too-distant future, we will be able to rediscover the
physical connections between us that can lead to a wonderful dancing journey, as
well as an adventure of interpersonal relationships.
needs of the other movers. I miss the laughter and giggles when we explore more
connections and find new ways of moving together. The combinations are
endless.
My hope is that in the not-too-distant future, we will be able to rediscover the
physical connections between us that can lead to a wonderful dancing journey, as
well as an adventure of interpersonal relationships.
Martha Armstrong Gray was Chair of the Dance Department from 1968 to 2013
and is also a past parent, ‘2001
and is also a past parent, ‘2001
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.