contact improvisation

Contact Improvisation is a form of improvised dancing that has been developing internationally since 1972. It has evolved into an art-sport, oscillating between different emphases such as experimental dance, theatrical play, educational tool, social dancing and awareness practice. C.I. founder, Steve Paxton says: “As a basic focus, the dancers remain in physical contact, mutually supportive and innovative, meditating upon the physical laws relating to their masses: gravity, momentum, inertia, and friction.”

Kiori Kawai’s class will explore how the sense of physical contact affects our bodies and minds. As we observe our conscious and unconscious movement choices, we’ll use kinesthetic awareness as a conversation to explore connection between ourselves and others. This will include physical partnering with sharing weight, playing with gravity, exploring a wide range of movement (from stillness to highly athletic), and exchanging ideas with each participants’ view point.