Contact Improvisation Class + Jam

Join The Center SF for a playful evening of contact improvisation. Class will be from 7:30-9pm and then will flow directly into a jam until 10:30pm. In class, we’ll explore themes of weight-sharing, counterbalancing, signaling, listening, and everything in-between. The jam that follows is an opportunity to continue researching your movement & relational curiosities that sparked from class. First-timers and experienced dancers are all very welcome! Today's class will be taught by Cathie Caraker with live jam music by Sasha & Jessie :)

CI classes at The Center will be offered by a rotating mix of teachers every 2nd & 4th Wednesday evening. Check the calendar here for more contact improv across the bay area and to see who's teaching.

teacher/musical artist/host bios:

CATHIE | teacher. Cathie Caraker bio coming soon

SASHA & JESSIE | musicians. Sasha and Jessie are a musical & vocal duo who create improvisational music and soundscapes using primarily string instruments and voice. They are passionate about involving their audiences in co-creating music together. They love to collaborate with dance, movement, fire, visual and performance artists of all kinds. Sasha & Jessie facilitate breathwork, energy healing & sound medicine guided journeys using voice and instruments. They create live fully-improvised acoustic & vocal Ecstatic Dance sets. Each live performance is unique and co-created with participants in the present moment.

Their musical performances incorporate vocal toning & singing, violin, viola, mandolin, charango, guitar, fretless bass, crystal & Tibetan bowls, hand pan, and percussion. They blend influences from classical, jazz, Indian, African, middle eastern, and indigenous traditions of the Americas into rhythms that make you want to dance and transcendent soundscapes.

Sasha and Jessie teach improvisation and creative expression. They weave in vocal improv learned from Bobby McFerren (circle singing) as well as channeling techniques from master channeling mentors. They also work hands-on using Dearmoring & energy healing to help bring forth your inner voice, clear old patterns, and live your most authentic, radiant Life.

Sasha has played music for most of his life, starting violin at age 7 and has performed in various classical ensembles, jazz & indie rock bands and sound healings in venues ranging from festivals, clubs, meditation centers, to symphony halls. Jessie has sung and played music since age 8, performing throughout the US and Europe. In each performance, they aim to create an intimate, moving experience.

Learn more at lifeforceintegration.com

MERRICK | evening host. Merrick Jacob is a lover of movement, continuously in awe of the body and its potential for unique expression, creativity, & authentic connection. Influenced by her practices of figure skating, acroyoga, hand balancing, and contact improvisation, she guides playful movement experiences as an opportunity for deep listening, exploration, and co-creation. She is a certified acroyoga instructor with AcroRevolution & AcroYoga Montréal. Merrick studied a variety of somatic movement therapy modalities with Dynamic Embodiment & The Moving On Center: School of Participatory Arts & Somatic Research, focusing on BodyMind Centering & Laban Movement Analysis. For more contact improvisation with Merrick, she hosts every 2nd & 4th Wednesday evening at The Center SF. Say hi to her here: https://merrickjacob.com/

Want to read more about CI? Here’s a good resource to start, and please make sure to review our class agreements before attending.

Looking forward to dancing & jamming together!

Host or Publisher The Center SF