Contact improvisation
Contact Improvisation (CI) is a postmodern dance/movement practice based on the principles of body contact, weight sharing and body awareness. The practice was developed by American dancer and choreographer Steve Paxton in 1972, drawing on elements of modern dance, the contemporary martial art of Aikido and somatic (body awareness) practices, creating a movement style that emphasizes the interplay of gravity, momentum and improvisation and encourages an experimental approach to movement. Contact Improvisation was also developed and expanded by Nancy Stark Smith, Lisa Nelson, Nita Little. Steve Paxton describes contact improvisation as follows: “The demands of this form dictate a movement style that is relaxed, conscious, ready and continuously flowing.” Contact improvisation is also known for its social events – “jams” or “Round Robin” – where dancers move or observe the action in progress, creating a safe and free space for experimentation.
