Falling & catching, lifting and being lifted: By researching in our solo movement the subtle mechanics of ‘small dance’, suspension & reaching, we progress towards using momentum and spirals to learn, fluid ways to lift one-another through ‘catching a ride’. Working with the frame and structure of the arms, we will explore ways connect to space and find counterbalance in the body, providing frames to both lift and be lifted, and offer structures to be explored. We will focus in on the details and technique of body tone, alignment and small points of contact, that help with finding lightness in being lifted and efficiency in lifting.

As well as these specific focuses, there will also be time given to more free exploration, to integrate the material into the dance naturally and organically.

Group awareness practices and jamming skills: Contact is a group practice. A continually evolving and changing space held by the attention of the movers present. Coming together to discover, enjoy and witness ways of moving, interacting and being.

In this module we will focus attention more towards how we sculpt space as a group, open our collective perception and look at how we move as an interconnected whole. How we frame dances by watching, giving space, feeling when to move, and when to be still. We will work with structures and scores to frame improvisation, and specific techniques for working in trios and larger groups.

A dance score can be viewed in a similar way to a score of music. A score can have specific focuses and guidelines to give structure and direction to improvisation.

We focus on cultivating a deeper awareness of listening, breathing, giving, receiving and timing.

On the last day we will close with an afternoon Jam. The intended outcome of this week is to leave feeling nourished and enriched in your moving body and dancing mind, and with a deeper connection to the ever evolving practice of Contact Improvisation.