Consent Jam - What does it take ... ?

What does it take to continuously find the balance of consent between closeness and distance with the other person?

Are you curious about how consent plays a crucial role in Contact Improvisation? Join us for an empowering and enlightening workshop where we’ll explore the foundations of consent, respect, and communication within the dance.

In this workshop, we will:

• Learn the Principles of Consent: Understand what consent truly means in a dance context, how to ask for and give consent, and why it’s essential for creating a safe and enjoyable environment.

• Practice Active Communication: Gain tools to communicate your boundaries and listen attentively to others, ensuring a clear and respectful connection throughout your dancing experience.

• Discover Non-Verbal Cues: Explore how body language and intuitive movements can communicate consent and enhance the understanding between partners.

• Create a Safe, Respectful Space: Delve into the importance of mutual respect and trust, learning to navigate physical touch with care and intention.

By the end of the workshop, we’ll come together for a Consent Jam, a guided experience where participants can practice what they've learned in a supportive, non-judgmental space. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to embody consent in action and explore physical connection with others in a way that is comfortable, respectful, and enriching.

Whether you're new to Contact Improvisation or an experienced dancer, this workshop will deepen your understanding of how conscious touch and clear consent enhance the CI experience.

Come move, connect, and explore in a safe and respectful environment. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fundamentals of Contact Improvisation - A Playful Journey Through the Essentials

Are you ready to dive into the exhilarating and playful world of Contact Improvisation? Whether you're new to CI or looking to deepen your practice, this workshop will immerse you in the essential principles of CI, with a special emphasis on biomechanics and play. You’ll learn how to move more freely, creatively, and consciously while gaining a deeper understanding of your body’s mechanics and how they relate to your partner’s structure.

In this workshop, you will:

Discover the Biomechanics of Movement with Fun

Unlock the natural movement patterns of both your body and your partner’s, creating smooth, fluid, and effortless connections. We’ll explore key principles such as:

• Muscle tone

• Base of support

• Center of gravity

• Counterbalance ( push, pull, grab, press)

• Weight sharing

• Point of contact

• Rolling point of contact

• Slide

• Momentum

These principles will be explored through spontaneous movement exercises that spark creativity and connection. Play is not just fun—it’s a powerful tool for growth. Through playful interactions, you’ll engage with the fundamentals, break free from rigidity, and discover new movement possibilities. This will help you connect more effectively with your partner, increasing fluidity and fun in your movement.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a solid foundation in the biomechanics of CI and a playful, expansive approach to connecting with others.

Join us for a day of fun, exploration, and learning. We can’t wait to share this experience with you!

Your Body, Your Language – Exploring CI through Body Language and Play

In the world of Contact Improvisation, movement is not just about the body—it’s a language. In this playful and engaging workshop, you’ll explore how your body communicates, how to understand and send signals through body language, and how this plays a vital role in consent and connection with others.

In this workshop, you will:

• Understand the Role of Body Language in Consent: Your body doesn’t just move—it speaks. Learn how to read and send subtle signals that help you communicate boundaries, desires, and comfort levels with others. We’ll explore how body language can be a clear indicator of consent and how to respond to those signals in a respectful and mindful way.

• Explore Non-Verbal Communication: Discover the power of non-verbal cues in CI. Through movement, you’ll learn how to tune into the unspoken messages your partner is sending and how to communicate your own boundaries and intentions without words. This connection through body language builds trust and safety within the dance.

• Engage in Playful Movement Games: Using games and exercises, we’ll explore how to create spontaneous, consent-based connections through play. These activities will help you develop intuition for both reading and sending body language cues, building a stronger, more mindful partnership.

• Practice Consent Through Movement: Learn how to give and receive consent through body language. Through improvisational exercises, you’ll explore the importance of being aware of your partner’s signals and how to offer clear, respectful communication of your own boundaries.

• Deepen Your Connection and Trust: Building on body language and consent, you’ll gain tools to engage with your partner in a safe, respectful, and joyful way. The workshop will foster a deeper sense of trust, freedom, and mutual understanding, allowing you to move more fluidly and creatively with others.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll not only have a deeper understanding of your body’s ability to communicate but also a more mindful, consent-driven approach to moving with others. This workshop will empower you to connect, communicate, and play with a greater sense of awareness and respect.

Join us for fun, exploration, and connection. Your body is your language—let's learn how to speak it with respect and consent!

How the Body Works: Integrating Contact Improvisation and Massage

Unlock the power of touch, movement, and relaxation in this unique workshop that blends bodywork and Contact Improvisation. Whether you’re new to CI or an experienced dancer, you’ll deepen your practice by incorporating therapeutic massage techniques and body awareness tools that enhance your connection with yourself and your partner.

In this workshop, you will:

• Integrate massage principles into your CI practice by exploring rhythmic pressure, stretching, and joint manipulation to release tension and increase flexibility.

• Develop a keen awareness of your muscle tone, learning when to engage or relax muscles to create smoother, more fluid movement.

• Navigate active and passive roles in movement, balancing support, weight-sharing, and flow with massage-inspired techniques.

• Build trust through touch by communicating, giving support, and receiving with sensitivity to your partner’s body language.

• Enhance fluidity by practicing passive release and using Thai massage methods to move with ease and grace.

• Experience therapeutic hands-on bodywork that promotes relaxation, recovery, and deeper connection.

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• Have a deeper understanding of how bodywork can elevate your CI practice.

• Know how to use massage techniques to improve communication and trust between partners.

• Feel more fluid, balanced, and grounded in your movement.

Join us for a day of exploration, connection, and body awareness, and discover how combining the principles of bodywork, massage, and Contact Improvisation can transform the way you move, connect, and communicate.

We can’t wait to share this immersive and transformative experience with you!

Blind Angel Jam: A Journey of Trust
A unique Contact Improvisation experience exploring movement beyond sight

Step into a world where touch, intuition, and trust guide your dance. In the Blind Angel Jam, one partner is blindfolded, opening up a new way to explore movement through heightened senses of touch, hearing, and intuition. The other partner—the “Angel”—offers gentle guidance, supporting a powerful connection built on trust and creativity.

After about 30 minutes, partners switch roles, giving everyone the chance to experience both perspectives—the guide and the blindfolded dancer. During the jam, participants can choose at any time whether to dance only with their Angel or to explore movement with different partners. Angels always prioritize safety and clear consent, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and supported in every interaction.

Why Join?

• Deepen your sensory awareness by removing visual distractions

• Build trust and communication through non-verbal connection

• Explore movement freely in a safe, supportive, and playful environment

This jam welcomes all levels—from complete beginners to experienced Contact Improvisation dancers. Whether you’re new to this form or a seasoned practitioner, you’ll discover something transformative in this journey of trust and play.

Ready to explore connection beyond sight? Join us at the Blind Angel Jam for a unique and enriching movement experience!

Underscore Jam - Dive Deep

Step into a unique, transformative experience with the “Underscore Dive Deep” — a systematic yet free-flowing approach to Contact Improvisation. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced mover, the Underscore offers a profound opportunity to explore the subtle details of every CI Jam (and probably any other group process), where you can dive into movement, connection, and creativity in a nurturing, organized space.

What is the Underscore Jam?
The Underscore Jam is a structured improvisational practice that guides participants through different stages of a CI Jam — from stillness and movement with pauses to reflection and harvest — enhancing awareness, trust, and connection. Developed by Nancy Stark Smith, this practice provides an ideal framework to explore physicality, sensory awareness, and the art of being and moving with others.

What to Expect in the Workshop:

• Exploration of the Phases: The Underscore unfolds in several stages, including energetic and physical arrival, assembly, perambulation, expanding and overlapping kinespheres, grazing, engagement, development, resolution, recirculation, reflection, sharing, stillness, and closure. Understanding these phases will naturally grow your sense of self-awareness in a jam context, bringing your solo and contact dance to a state-of-the-art level.

• Honest Communication: Share thoughts, feelings, or information openly and truthfully, without hiding or distorting the message. Explore moments of verbal communication based on transparency and sincerity and how they are enriching the process

• Heightened Awareness and Connection: Focus on sensory experiences and refine your non-verbal communication, deepening your connection with both your body and your partner.

• A Long, Focused, Silent Jam: Engage in a session with an intention (seed) that you can grow within the space. This session will support your understanding of the Contact Improvisation process forever, fostering deep presence, expanding your perception of the process, and enhancing your awareness in communication.

•  All Levels: Whether you're new to Contact Improvisation or an experienced explorer of movement, the Underscore offers something for everyone — allowing you to deepen your practice and explore new dimensions of life.

Why Join the Underscore Jam?

• Enhance and deepen your practice with a systematic yet creative framework for exploration.

• Build deep understanding, trust, and connection through the attentive, established framework.

• Delight in the conscious awareness that grows in the space of contact improvisation through your understanding of the Underscore.

• Explore and communicate your boundaries in a supportive, focused environment.

• Tap into the universe with intention and purpose, while remaining present in the moment.

Join us for an enriching journey through movement, trust, and creative expression. The Underscore Jam offers a space for you to connect, explore, and move with intention — whether you're new to Contact Improvisation or an experienced mover and explorer of body and connection.

Sample Schedule of the Day:

  9:30 - 10:00 energetic and physical arrival ,Solo Warm-up
10:00 - 13:00: Understanding Underscore Workshop part I
13:00 - 14:30: Break (Bring along some vegetarian delights for a shared picnic)

14:30 - 16:00 Understanding Underscore Workshop part II

16:00 - 16:30: Break

16:30 - 19:00: Underscore Jam – Dive deep
19:00 - 19:30: Reflection, sharing, stillness and Closing Circle

19:30 - … : Community Time, Tee

Bring with you:

• Your water bottle

• Your notebook+pencil (if you want to write or draw)

• Feel free to bring some tee and something to eat for a shared vegan/vegetarian buffet

Lab of Discovery - Explore, Experiment, Evolve

Step into the Contact Improvisation Lab—a dynamic and immersive workshop designed for movement exploration, creative growth, and mutual learning. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced CI practitioner, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your practice, connect with others, and explore the art of improvisation in a supportive environment.

What to Expect:

• Creative Movement Exploration: Experiment with various improvisational techniques, testing the limits of movement, balance, and weight-sharing with partners.

• Partner Work & Solo Exploration: Engage in group exercises, pair work, or solo practice to discover new ways to connect with others and yourself.

• Safe & Supportive Environment: Explore movement without judgment, allowing for experimentation, risk-taking, and self-discovery.

• Playful Approach to CI: Embrace the freedom to try new things, shift perspectives, and push your own boundaries in a safe and nurturing space.

• Focus on Connection & Sensitivity: Deepen your awareness of your body, your partner, and the space you share, learning to trust, listen, and respond intuitively.

• Individual & Group Exercises: Participate in collaborative group work and personalized exercises designed to enhance your skills in Contact Improvisation.

• Learn from Each Other’s Experience: Share insights and discoveries with your fellow participants, learning from one another’s unique perspectives and experiences.

• Explore the Role of Teacher & Student: In this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to switch between the roles of teacher and student, deepening your understanding of both aspects while fostering a sense of mutual respect and shared learning. Learn how to both guide and receive feedback, enhancing your practice and communication.

Why Join the CI Lab?

• Innovative Exploration: Go beyond traditional CI classes to explore the full spectrum of movement, from gentle touches to more dynamic lifts and flows.

• No Experience Necessary: All levels of experience are welcome. The lab is about learning and growing at your own pace, with guidance from experienced instructors.

• Build Trust & Community: Connect with like-minded people who share your passion for movement and creativity. This lab fosters a supportive community where you can learn, practice, and grow together.

• Have Fun & Play: This is a space to let go, enjoy the process, and rediscover the joy of movement and connection.

• Learn in a Dynamic Setting: By stepping into the dual roles of teacher and student, you’ll expand your understanding of improvisation and deepen your connection to the art form.

Perfect For:

• CI practitioners looking to deepen their practice.

• Newcomers interested in exploring Contact Improvisation in a relaxed, open setting.

• Anyone seeking creative movement, body awareness, and therapeutic touch.

Join us in the CI Lab to discover the joy of movement, connection, and improvisation. Come ready to explore, experiment, and evolve in a space that encourages creativity, playfulness, and self-expression. We can’t wait to move with you!