Beginner friendly pre-jam warmup class 5-6.30pm followed by the jam 6.30-8.30pm. Doors will be closed for the duration of the class to keep the focus, so please arrive early to attend the class, you can arrive at any time for the jam. Dancers can come just for the class, £6, or stay for the jam, £9. You can also book on MoveGB
For more information feel free to contact the teacher/facilitator or info@contactdance.co.uk. We send out regular emails of class descriptions, to get these, please sign-up to our mailing list.
Class Description
The focus of softness and strength I’m interested in exploring in all aspects and moments of a CI session. The focus this evening will be more on what happens when I am supporting all or most of someone’s weight. Actually, I really prefer to think of it as channelling someone’s weight through me into the floor. It’s both.
If I am always soft, where am I for my partner? If I am always strong and hard and ‘supportive’, where’s the pleasure, fun, dialogue and ease?
It is possible to combine being present, strong and supportive while being soft and responsive. Much of this comes down to technique and awareness of what I’m communicating to a partner and how I’m responding to and interacting with another person offering and giving their weight.
We will look at and explore some techniques and underlying principles of inviting and allowing weight onto us (and, conversely giving my weight), and developing awareness of what is happening in us and between us.
The Jam
A jam is an informal gathering of dancers. There is no teacher, but space and time to develop skills and confidence. You are free to dance, rest, or sit and watch, as you wish. The jam provides an opportunity to explore and integrate techniques you have learned, and to find your own routes into dancing.
At some jams a teacher will facilitate a score to follow such as a focused (silent) jam, the Underscore (developed by Nancy Stark-Smith), or a blindfold (or eyes-closed) jam, this will normally be advertised via our regular mailout – so sign-up if you want advance notice.