Photo by George Kyriacou
In the past four months or so I have danced only a handful of times. One of these was at a jam at Tanzfabrik in Berlin. It was there that I remembered how much I enjoy the practise of Contact Improvisation. It’s not just the energy release and physical indulgence (to fall, roll, sweep, catch, cradle, rock, slide, lift and fly) that I find invigorating but also the sense of communication and conversation. I speak no German but found myself in a familiar environment and I was able to converse in a common language (I’m talking about the dancing here even though everyone I met spoke English to me!)
At this time I was performing and composing music for choreographed work. The dancing I had at the jam illuminated for me how a practise of presence, which is an integral part of contact for me, is equally important to set and improvised performance works. Having a real-time kinesthetic training - such as contact - can allow dancers to inhabit their bodies and space in a way that allows you to see that their dance is communicating - in both set and improvised material
What place does improvisation play in your dancing? What does your training involve? What are the relationships between improvisation and choreography in development and performance?
We’re always keen to hear from you. Let us know what informs your dancing.