EXCO 501 - Contact Improvisation

2 credits
This course will be an introduction to Contact Improvisation, a movement form that was instigated in the 1970s by Steve Paxton and others (including Oberlin alumni). It has roots in the Japanese martial art of aikido, as well as New York’s postmodern dance scene (Judson Church). It is a partnered form (duets, trios, & beyond) whose underlying physical principles, although improvised, can be taught & studied, to a certain extent, like jazz. The form sensitizes practitioners to gravity, momentum, weight, inertia, resistance, counter-balance, and stillness. Contact between bodies is often physical, but can be visual, vibratory, or communicative in other ways. We will practice rolling, sliding, falling, inverting, lifting, flying, resting, listening through touch, non-visual proprioception, building trust, and improvisational openness. Together we will warm up, lab (workshop) & jam (play). This ExCo is intended for people who are new to Contact Improvisation but is open to all levels and backgrounds. I will adjust each lesson depending on the interests & abilities of the group. The goal is for everyone to gain a deep understanding of the basics.

Sophie Bransfield
sbransfi@oberlin.edu
Link to Syllabus
Link to Application