In this workshop, we will dance with the Ghosts that emerge during the practice of contact improvisation. Power dynamics, intense sensations, “negative” emotions. Perhaps we don’t always wish to engage with them, but they haunt us nevertheless. Here, we will invite them in, as friends, teachers, or even lovers. 

The classical approach to C.I. exists in a realm of pure physics, in which bodies share weight, or convene around a rolling point. And yet, the power dynamics in which we are steeped (of race, class, gender, able-bodiedness, perceived hotness, etc.) do not cease when we enter the studio. What other options can we explore, besides trying to ignore them? 

Likewise, there is often a desire in C.I. spaces for a flow state, or uninterrupted sense of well-being, but sometimes we experience a stronger impact or intense sensation in the course of a dance that can feel like an interruption. What happens when we use breath and movement to focus on and transform these moments of intense sensation (sometimes conventionally described as “pain”) into energy, even into pleasure? How do we navigate moments of tension, discomfort, and insecurity during the dance, and what happens when we treasure these moments, and honor them with curiosity?

We will be working somatically and with simple partner exercises involving power dynamics and intense sensations, to shine a light on the shadows of our dancing. We will also work very, very slowly indeed. We will center the boundaries of all involved. Exercises around consent will be an essential part of the workshop and the beauty of a “no” is appreciated and valued as much as a “yes” or a “maybe” or a “i need time to reflect on this”. At the same time, our (constantly shifting) boundaries are an essential element of our (constantly shifting) identities, and an awareness of our own and others’ is fundamental to an ethical way of dancing together, and to our potential for transformation. As Judith Plaskow points out, “Our boundaries are where we meet”.