editorial
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This newsletter is the fruit of a recent upsurge of interest in Contact Improvisation in Melbourne. Though this particular growth spurt is recent, the development of this mode of improvisational dance in Australia has been fermenting for some time, based mainly in Sydney and Melbourne.
In Melbourne Rinske Ginsberg
has been teaching for many years influencing large numbers of students as they
passed through the John Bolton school and the VCA. Tim Preston,
Darryl Pellitzer and Martin Hughes are other Melbourne teachers
who have taught in various places at various times for some years. Most have
spent time training in the USA, with the originators of Contact, both on the
East and West coast. Steve Paxton and Nancy Stark Smith are illustrious
names in the creation and evolution of Contact, whose influence has spread across
the Pacific.
Helen Clarke Lapin must be given the title of senior Contact Improviser
in Australia as she was working in New York with Paxton and Stark Smith in the
early days 25 years ago. She now lives and teaches in Sydney. State of Flux
Dance Company began in Melbourne two years ago, teaching and performing with
a Contact focus. A small community has grown from their classes & jams. Some
former students have begun to teach and two residential 'jams' have been held
in Natimuk, Northwestern Victoria, the last one graced with people from NSW,
SA and QLD. A weekly 'jam' has now been going for more than a year non-stop.
A 'jam' is a time for people to try their contact skills, to just dance with
a number of partners. An exciting cross fertilisation and networking has been
brewing. Helen Clarke Lapin has taught in Melbourne and has attended
the Natimuk jam. Members of 'Flux' have varied improvisational skills to contribute
to classes and performance and thus their Contact classes take on a new flavour
and a new emphasis. Dancers versed in other improvisational forms have taken
Contact classes and begun to incorporate elements into their work.
In late January this year Martin Hughes and Al Wunder taught a
workshop called 'Bringing Contact into Performance', adding Al's particular
body of knowledge and long standing experience in improvisational performance
to Martin's extensive Contact expertise. 'Flux' continues to explore the possibilities
of blending this form with other improvisational techniques in performance,
particularly through the monthly Conundrum evenings. Also exciting is the mixed
ability focus present both in the Sydney and Melbourne Contact communities.
People with physical disabilities have been involved in both cities in classes
and performance. In the USA there has been a proliferation of 'Danceability'
integrated Contact Improvisation events with the huge Danceability jam in Oregon
being an annual high point, helping to break down narrow and exclusive concepts
of dance.
We hope that this newsletter will be another arena to forge links, promote discussion and disseminate news of peoples doings and to expand this growing network of Contact Improvisers and their improvising and dancing friends and fellow travellers. Articles, news of events, poetry, photos and all manner of correspondence are welcome.
vol 6 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3&4 - 2003 vol 5 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3 - ed 4 - 2002 vol 4 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3 - ed 4 - 2001 vol 3 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3 - ed 4 - 2000 vol 2 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3 - ed 4 - 1999 vol 1 ed 1 - ed 2 - ed 3 - ed 4 - 1998 |
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