MIME-Version: 1.0 Server: CERN/3.0pre6 Date: Sunday, 24-Nov-96 23:12:37 GMT Content-Type: text/html Content-Length: 25959 Last-Modified: Thursday, 21-Nov-96 23:42:03 GMT Contact Improvisation

Contact Improvisation

What is Contact Improvisation?

I've never seen a definition of Contact that I really liked. For some people, it's a (new) folk dance. For others, it's a process for finding new choreographic ideas. Some people perform it, others do it as a practise or discipline. Some people look at it and see gymnastics, or wrestling, or swing dance. What are the "mere facts" about it? It's usually done as a duet (but sometimes solo or in larger groups), it's usually in silence; and it's improvised. Dancers are as likely to be on the floor as standing, and sometimes they're flying on someone else's shoulders. Now I have a couple of photographs (but I could still use some more, and, someday, video.)

The single best place to find out more, short of just doing it, is in the pages of Contact Quarterly, a magazine that covers contact and the extended family of new dance.

What's this page for?

My intention is to use it as a referral service for jams, workshops, classes and events. I don't see a need for an online magazine or journal for Contact, since we're already well served by the Quarterly. On the other hand I'd like to have a couple of photographs, and maybe even a video clip. In a couple of years, when there's more bandwidth available on the net, we can try setting up live connections between jams.

This page is maintained by Jim Davis, email to jdavis@parc.xerox.com. I really appreciate getting mail already in HTML, especially if your information is lengthy.

Disclaimer

All information appearing on this page was supplied to me by correspondents too numerous to name, which is to say I have no way to be certain whether it's true or up to date. In some cases I've edited or reformatted the information for clarity. I have no official relation to any of the individuals or organizations listed here. In particular, I have no relation to Contact Quarterly, so if you want information about them you'll have to ask yourself.

Table of Contents

Workshops and Events

in chronological order.

Nov 29 - Dec 1, NYC: Crash Course: a workshop in extreme contact improvisation with Karl Frost.
An advanced skills and thrills laboratory working on the more dynamic aspects of contact, stressing the use of release for speed and movement through 3-D space. Friday, November 29 - Sunday, December 1, 10AM to 4:30PM, at Bill Young's studio, 100 Grand St in Manhattan. Cost is $75 - $100 sliding scale with no one turned away for lack of funds. Call Yoko for registration and more information (212)598-4518

Dec 7, 1996 Contact Improvisation Taught By Julie Oak
Workshops 2:00 - 5:00 pm Held at Pacific Cultural Center Performance Hall 1307 Seabright (at Broadway) in Santa Cruz, California Call Julie Oak for more information 408-425-1606

May 22nd-26th, 1997: California Contact Improvisation Jam At Harbin Hot Springs
Contact Improvisation Jam At Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, California: Open dancing, mineral hot springs, catered natural foods cuisine, group accommodations or camping, located in a quiet wooded area. Contact Julie Oak 408-425-1606

June 3 - June 15, 1997: CI 25 at Oberlin College
25 Anniv. of Contact Improvisation Celebration, produced by Contact Collaborations, coordinated by NSS, at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, first two weeks in June 1997. Will include a three-day Contact Training Intensive, Mixed-Ability Contact weekend, and a Jubilee week of jamming, classes, performances, CI video and literature library, etc. For more information contact: Barbara Kauff, 11 Amherst Rd., Pelham, MA 01002; tel. (413) 256-6385.

Contact Jams

(Alphabetically by country, then by name of city)

Australia

Melbourne, Victoria, Every Tuesday evening 6-8pm
Movement Studio, School of Drama, Victorian College of the Arts. Free Info: Dave Corbet.
Also Classes Every Saturday 12-2pm Danceworks, Wesleyan Church Hall, 2-36 Cardigan Place, Albert Park

Austria

Vienna jam every Friday night 7ish to 10ish.
It's at a place called Wuk. call 1/9121465 for info
Innsbruck has a weekly jam
organized by Anja Bader Call 0512/7393645

Canada

Montreal. Sunday 11AM to 1PM
Studio 303, 372, St-Catherine Street Montreal. Info: Joel Muzard. Email: jmuzard@citi.doc.ca
Toronto, Candada, every Sunday, 11am->1.30pm
345 Adelaide Street West. ($3.) Email: pitch@io.org
Vancouver, Canada. Sundays 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Western Front Lodge, 303 East Eighth Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. Home of EDAM 604-876-9559 Cost: $2 Info: Jacques 604-879-3640

the Netherlands

Amsterdam, first Sunday of the month
at 'de Kazerne', van Ostadestraat 341. Information 31 20 642 9243 Email: boeft@xs4all.nl Natanja den Boeft

United States of America

Albuquerque NM. Sundays
500 Second St., Albuquerque NM. Call ahead (505) 345-5388 and/or write Benjamin Yang at 75332.2263@compuserve.com
Berkeley, CA. Jam Every Saturday 3:30-6:00.
8th Street Studio (2525 8th St), near Dwight. Fluid Contact taught Saturdays 1:30 to 3:30 (preceeding the jam) from Oct 5 through Nov 6 by Terese Gjernes and Brenton Cheng (415-824-7049)
Boston, MA - see Cambridge, MA
Burlington, Vermont. Wednesday nights, 7-9
Memorial Auditorium Loft Info: Mikey Kinsman 802-860-3674
Cambridge, MA. Every Tuesday 8-10:30, $5
Old Cambridge Baptist Church 151 Massachusetts Ave Harvard Square, CambridgeMA 02138 Information: Doug Pouliot (617) 776-6362 Rick Roberts 617-277-4471, or Chandelle Hesselgrave (617) 641-3713. rroberts@intl.com
Movement Improvisation Jams with live, improvised music. Facilitated by Olivier Besson First monday each month The Dance Complex 536 Massachusetts Ave Central Square, Cambridge MA 02139 Info: 617-491-2808
Cleveland, OH.
Every two weeks. For info call Larry Muha at 216-229-8156. (Recent location was Case Western Reserve University, Mather Dance Center (behind The Church of the Covenant) address: 11201 Bellflower Rd Cleveland, OH 44106, but call to check.)
Cleveland, OH (Class)
Colleen Clark and Johana Walker, Wednesday evenings in June and July Call 691-9127 (area code 216 I think).
Atlanta, GA.
every two weeks in Atlanta at Several Dancer's Core in Decatur. Next series begins Dec. 2, 4-6 p.m. Ususally a potluck dinner and slow blues jam follows. Call Sid Hetzler at 404-377-9616 (email: SidHetzler@aol.com) or call Heitzso at 404/325-4621,
Ithaca, NY. Sunday afternoons. Tom Rockwell at 607-273-8650
Los Angeles, CA. Sunday afternoon
Dance Home in Santa Monica. The people to call would be Mary Herzog 714 494 3451, or Kirk Andrews 714 494 0785.
Miami, FL. Saturday mornings
Contact-improvisation Jams in Miami,FL every Saturday morning from 8:30 - 10:30 at In-Motion Dance Center, 4542 SW 75 Avenue, Miami, FL. Cost $5. Info: Adalgisa Barison (Dal) Phone: (305) 229-1354 E-mail: morabari@ix.netcom.com
New York City. Sunday afternoons, 2-5pm
Two locations:
Eden's Expressway
537 Broadway, 4th fl
between Spring and Prince
Oct 27, Nov 10, 24, Dec 15, 22, Jan 5, 19, Feb 2, 16, Mar 2, 16, 30, Apr 13, 27, May 11, 25
Hundred Grand
100 Grand St, 2nd fl.
(at Mercer St.)
Oct 20, Nov 3, 17, Dec 8, 29, Jan 12, 26, Feb 9, 23 March 9, 23, Apr 6, 20, May 4, 18
Cost is $5. If people need information, they can contact Greg at (718) 965-9747 or by e-mail: greg@inx.net, or Ione at (718) 935-9172 or Bill 212-925-6573
Pittsburgh, PA.
every first and third (and fifth when it happens) Sunday of the month at the Dance Alloy studio (Carnegie Museum, 4400 Forbes av.) Info call Massimo Paolucci.(412) 621-8033, e-mail paolucci+@pitt.edu.
Richmond, VA, Thursday evenings 7:30 - 9
The Roundhouse in Byrd Park. Call Mugsy Lunsford for more info: (804)231-6227, or email: mugsy@infi.net
Rochester, NY.
Valerie Talbot 716-473-7796
San Francisco, CA.
Tuesday nights, 8:00 - 10:00 pm, at 848 Community Space, 848 Divisadero at McAllister.
Friday nights 7-11pm- at DanceGround Keriac, 1805 Divisadero at Bush. Jam sometimes includes informal works-in-progress performance. Confirm before attending. (415) 775-5663.
Santa Cruz, CA. Sunday nights
7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Santa Cruz Dance Gallery on Front St. Info: Germaine Weaver, (408)685-0672.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, Wednesday evenings
7:30pm to when it's over Railyard Performance Center, 430 W Manhattan at Guadalupe Call Norman Johnson at 505-982-9220 for information. Send email to nlj@pobox.com
Seattle, WA. every Tuesday night, 8-10
Dance Centre Seattle. 704 19th Ave. East (at E. Roy) in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Bus #10 or #12 from downtown. Cost $3 to 5 sliding.
ongoing mixed-level Contact Improv classes before the jam every week at 6:30. Info call Sheri Cohen at (206) 292-4980.
Washington, DC. Sundays
At a dance space in American University's Butler Lecture Hall. (The place has been shifting, due to unexpected graduate student activity in AU's dance program.) We frequently have a beginning-to-intermediate level classes starting at 2:30, continuing to 3:30 or 4:00, and jam until ~6:00. Considering the space uncertainties, it's a good idea to call me or one of the other regular DC jammers to confirm before showing up:
Ken Manheimer Email klm@cnri.reston.va.us Work 703 620-8990, Home 703 620-3478, 11604 Ivystone Ct, Reston, VA 22091

Germany

Berlin
there's a weekly jam at Tanzfabrik, Sunday or Saturday afternoon. call 030/7865861 for info.
Frieburg, jam Thursday nights, 7PM-11PM
at a place called E-Work which is within walking distance of the train station. Folks tend to go out for a beer afterwards at the cafe downstairs. call Stefanie Decker for info - 0761/23168

New Zealand

Auckland, Wednesday nights, 7:30-9:30PM
organized by Cath Chappell (09-3765885) at a school called Unitec. There are also irregular jams and classes organized by Olive Bieringa (04-386-1772)

Places (and companies)

Alphabetical by name

DanceGround Keriac, San Francisco, CA
DanceGround Keriac, the studio for New Dance-1805 Divisadero St., San Francisco, Ca 94115
Earthdance (Plainfield, MA, USA)
Offers weekend workshops and jams. Recent instructors include: Andrew Harwood, Andy Gaines, Bill McCully, KJ Holmes, Susan Schell, Ruth Zaporah.
Earthdance
252 Prospect St
Plainfield, MA 01070
413-634-5678

Lower Left Dance, San Diego, California
A dance collective with Nina Martin, Mary Reich, Jane Blount, and Karen Schaffman in San Diego. 3630 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92103. We offer workshops and classes in Contact Improvisation, Feldenkrais (tm), Authentic Movement, Bartinieff Fundamentals, etc. This fall we will be making our home at Sushi Performance and Visual Arts. Email: schafk01@student.ucr.edu

Moving on Center (Berkeley, CA, USA)
School for participatory arts and research in contact improvistion, Body-Mind Centering(tm), voice, Laban/Bartenieff, Alexander technique, etc. Offering courses, workshops, and certification programs.
1609 Virginia Street
Berkeley CA 94703
510-834-0284

Montreal Dance Exchange
5464 Chabot St, Montreal, Canada, H2H 1Z2 514-526-5092

Smith Grade Construction, Santa Cruz, California
Smith Grade Construction is a Contact Improvisation Ensemble Directed by Nita Little
Members are: Lanny Cuthbertson, Per Haaland, Katja Irvin, Nita Little and Rosy Simas.
Nita Little teaches Ongoing Contact Improvisation Classes at the Dance Gallery
Wednesdays 7:30-9:30 pm.
For more information about the ensemble, classes or performances contact
Nita:408-457-2744, Email: nlittlen@aol.com
or Rosy Simas: 408-423-1859, Email: rosy@feet.org

State of Flux (Melbourne, Australia)
State of Flux is a Melbourne-based dance education and performance company exploring the synergies between Contact Improvisation, Body-Mind Centering(r), Skinner Release Technique and Integrated approaches to improvisation as well as mixed ability Contact. Members are: Llewellyn Wishar (Certified BMC Practitioner), Martin Hughes (Contact Improvisation Teacher), Wendy Smith (Skinner Release Teacher) and Janice Florence (Skinner Release and integrated approaches to improvisation). We're a new company running classes, workshops and performances here in Melbourne and have already hosted a number of international CI teachers this year Xjamal Zanthia (SFO), Olive Beiringa (NZ/Europe) & Karl Frost (SFO) and local/interstate folks. Betwen the 4 of us we have extensive contacts in the CI community in USA and Europe and are keen to open the field wider for exchanges, flow of information & letting people know that they can come and dance with us (we have a regular jam and classes)
STATE OF FLUX PO Box 6774 Melbourne VIC 8008 AUSTRALIA Tel: 61 3 9534 1326 Fax: 61 3 9531 6495 Pager: 61 3 9883 7136

Studio B, Oslo, Norway
Studio B, Teglverksgata 7 B, 0556 Oslo, Norway, (phone?) #47-22-38-35-59 Contact: Sidsel Pape. Email: lars.bahner@filosofi.uio.no

Touch Monkey and Dreamswell studio in Portland, Oregon
Touch Monkey is a dance collective devoted to "the art of dancing anytime/anywhere", consisting of Caroline Stuart, Patrick Gracewood, Elizabeth Kerle, Gretchin Spiro and out of towners Ben Yang and Karl Frost. Caroline teaches regular classes at Dreamswell studio, and they can be contacted about jams in Portland. Call Caroline @ (503)239-5794.

People

Alphabetic by last name within state (USA) or country. Thanks to Greg Lara for editing! See also "Places".

Canada

Great Britain

New Zealand

United States

California Florida Georgia Iowa Maryland Massachusetts Missouri

New Mexico

New York Pennsylvania Wisconson Virginia

Notices

This section is for announcements and solicitations of a general and permanent nature, as opposed to announcements of events or workshops with a fixed start and stop date. I don't object in principle to running advertisements here but please remember that I'm not getting paid for this, so if I don't have time to add your ad, don't get mad. I prefer if you send me HTML. Notices are listed in the order they arrived.

Photographs

Karl Frost and Olive Bieringa in parking lot
Karl Frost and Olive Bieringa dancing in a parking lot in Wellington, NZ. Photographer unknown, sent by Karl via Brenton Cheng. 147kbytes
Karl Frost and Olive Bieringa in parking lot.
Second in the series. 165Kbytes
Charley Mosey and Nuria Bowart 28K
Charley Mosey and Nuria Bowart connect at the Fall 1996 East Coast Contact Jam at Claymont Court, West Virginia. Jim Benson Photo.

Other dance information


This page maintained by Jim Davis, jdavis@parc.xerox.com. Updated Nov 17, 1996.