Contact improvisation word bank:
- Being present
- Eye contact
- Release
- Breath
- Releasing the head
- Activating the head and the eyes
- Non touching
- Steve Paxton’s small dance
- Weight bearing
- Skinesphere
- Counter balance
- Interchangeable role of under and over dancer
- Momentum
- Rolling points
- Body surfing
- Inwards and outward gaze
- Proprioception
- Guiding
- Safe practice
- Habitual movements
- Kinesphere
- Letting go
- Exploration
- Aikido
- Going down to go up
- Anchors and leavers
- Resistance
- Collaboration
- Imagery
- Trust
- Touch
- Dialogue, communication
- Sensory knowledge
- Connection
- Equal forces of weight
- Frames
- Pendulum
- Scores
- Connections – front to front, side to side, back to back, pelvis, head
- Internalization
These are just a few of the many things I have learnt and skills I have acquired through my contact improvisation training. Overall my journey through contact improvisation has been physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. Struggling with confidence really took its toll on the beginning of my practice and working through my apprehensions was a lot of hard work.
I began this module with a fear of being judged, restricting myself on my movement as I was afraid of who was watching and the inevitable of what if something went wrong. This often resorted in my leaving jam’s at the earliest opportunity and not wanting to re-enter, having an unsafe amount of tension in my body which limited my movement ability and trying to avoid both lifting and being lifted as I wasn’t comfortable giving my weight and didn’t feel I was strong enough to take anyone else’s.
As this module comes to an end, looking back on how I started this semester to how I am ending it seems a million miles away. I am now able to confidently have a physical conversation with another body, in which there is a constant flow and communication. I am now aware of my centre of gravity and how it can change. I am able to explore the interchangeable role of the over and under dancer without any thought of my strength or weight as I am now aware that these things place no role in a successful partnership. They key is finding a point of connection, establishing these points for anchoring and levering, and allowing the body to relax into the movement. I have become more aware of my own body and mind, noticing the fine details, such as Steve Paxton’s small dance, which allows me to focus on the internal and perform more intricate and innovative movement. Previously I avoided the use of eye contact as it made me uncomfortable, now I can communicate with another body using just my eyes.
I feel I will always have a certain amount of apprehension toward improvisation, however now I am able to push through, be present in the moment and enjoy the experience. The skills I have acquired from contact improvisation have had a clear effect on the rest of my dance training and I intend to keep them fresh in the body for as long as possible.
Bibliography:
Watch Nancy Stark-Smith talking about the underscore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzG609NWp1Y
Caught Falling, The Confluence of Contact Improvisation, Nancy Stark Smith, and Other Moving Ideas page 90 onwards.