Contact Improvisation for Beginners: How to Start

The name says it all. Contact improvisation is a modern dance style that relies on physical and spiritual interaction between two partners.

The way contact is made can vary, as can the planes on which it occurs. This dance is full of freedom and encourages people to be themselves, let loose, and allow their bodies to move freely.

Many people love this dance because it helps them feel true freedom and unity with a partner, but not all of them start practicing because they simply don't know how. So, in this article, we've gathered some helpful tips to make it easier for you to step onto the path of this style and feel more comfortable in it.

Remember that the dance is based on contact between two partners. Sometimes, there may even be more than two people involved. If you feel you can't open up enough to a person or several people, then perhaps this dance isn't for you. But that's all fixable. There are two ways to solve this problem. First, try to feel more comfortable with your partner and build mutual trust.

Here are some tangible benefits of contact improvisation:

— Let go. Agreed, it's quite difficult to experience all the deep emotions of contact improvisation if you're closed off in your feelings. You need to understand that until you open yourself up, the dance won't happen. It's based entirely on your current self-awareness. Give yourself a little freedom to show these emotions, don't be afraid to try something new;

— Practice. Although the dance is quite simple and based largely on body sensation and energy flows transmitted through contact, you should have some basic knowledge.

For example, how to redirect an impulse that your partner gave you, or how to properly give and receive that impulse. You might not know how to control your body so that it looks and feels organic. These are all aspects that require a lot of practice and self-study!

Try doing this dance with someone close to you. Or, just get closer to someone new. That way, you'll not only feel more relaxed during the dance but also make new acquaintances and friends. The second option suggests you reconsider your position on opening up with other people. You just need to understand that those dancing with you are people just like you. There's nothing shameful about your emotions—we all experience them.