© Edwin Paree

Contact improvisation: fundamentals on Tuesday evening

Start Tue 3 February '26
18:45 - 20:15

8 sessions

Prices

Basic price: € 125
All prices

Location Danspunt
Dok Noord Sint-Salvatorstraat 18 001A
9000 GENT

More about the location(s)

Language & teacher(s) English

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During this series, we will take the time to explore and playfully examine the basic principles of contact improvisation (CI). You will become (more) familiar with some of the fundamentals of contact improvisation. Through practice, we will learn to carry and be carried, to lean and to support in a dance. We will experience what it means to 'read' our dance and our dance partner(s).

Our ultimate goal? To engage in dance with a partner with an available and conscious body.

What should you imagine? Watch these videos by Tiina Jääskö & Mileen Borgonjon, Sasha Dodo and Nancy Stark Smith and Karen Nelson. Nancy and Karen are two pioneers from the early years of CI.

About Contact Improvisation

Contact Improvisation (CI) has its roots in the early 1970s. It is a rich world, a playground, a laboratory, a poetic universe. The basic physical principle is to play from our instinct for movement, opening up our movement possibilities while sharing contact and weight with one or more partners.

No matter how small, subtle, gentle or acrobatic the movements may be, it is all about listening, being available and responding.

Unlike other partner dances, we do not remain vertical (i.e. directly opposite each other, as in 'classical' partner dance). We move together through different spatial levels and directions, away from the floor and towards the floor. Supporting and being supported, carrying and being carried. No fixed steps, but principles of movement and active listening, being present.

Before we know it, we inhabit our unique dance in that moment.

Practical

Wear clothing (without metal/sharp parts) that allows you to move easily. Bring a pair of soft knee pads and a bottle of water for in between. We dance barefoot.

Level of experience

Level 1: this is your first introduction to CI or you want to revisit/further master the basics. The basic courses in the dance programme can be taken several times (which is highly encouraged, by the way).

Sessions

  • Tue 3 February '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 10 February '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 24 February '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 3 March '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 10 March '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 17 March '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 24 March '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1
  • Tue 31 March '26
    18:45 - 20:15
    Danspunt - Studio 1

Location(s)

  • Danspunt Dok Noord Sint-Salvatorstraat 18 001A
    9000 GENT Show on map

    WISPER has several course locations at the DOK Noord site. The Danspunt studio's are one of them. Is it your first time here? Please come in time and make sure to read the information on www.wisper.be/doknoord first. Without these guidelines, it's easy to get lost here!

Prices

  • Better world price
    € 138 Choose this price and contribute to the course of someone who can’t afford it without help. How wonderful is that?
  • Basic price
    € 125 Covers the cost of your course. Nothing less, nothing more.
  • Reduced price
    € 100 If money is tight (right now).
  • Social discount UiTPAS Ghent
    € 25 (max 6 / year) only for Ghent citizens

Teacher

Carolina Van Eps Jimenez

Carolina Van Eps Jimenez is a dancer, performer, creator, and activist. She grew up in Colombia and…
More about Carolina Van Eps Jimenez