Contact Improvisation + Jam

Join The Castro Room for a playful evening of contact improvisation.

A guided warm-up class will be from 8:00-8:50pm 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 Merrick Jacob with live jam music.

Teacher & Host

Merrick Jacob is a lover of movement, continuously in awe of the body and its potential for delightful expression, wild creativity, & authentic connection. Influenced by her practices of contact improvisation, figure skating, acroyoga, and hand-balancing, she guides playful movement experiences as an opportunity for deep listening, research, and co-creation. Merrick hosts contact across the SF Bay Area.

Say hi here: merrickjacob.com

About Contact Improvisation, Agreements, FAQS

First time?

Is it your first time hearing of this movement form? It can be defined in many ways. I love this definition from Ray Chung, “Contact Improvisation is an open-ended exploration of the kinaesthetic possibilities of bodies moving through contact. Sometimes wild and athletic, sometimes quiet and meditative, it is a form open to all bodies and enquiring minds.”Curious first-timers to experienced dancers are all very welcome!

What happens in class and do I need a partner?

Class is a time to explore themes of weight-sharing, counterbalancing, signaling, listening, and everything in-between in solo, duets, and as a group. Each teacher brings their own unique flavor to the class. No need to come with a partner. The teacher will facilitate pairing people together and switching partners throughout the class.

What's a jam?

This is an opportunity to continue researching your movement & relational curiosities that sparked from class or just to enjoy sharing creative movement space together. Dance, witness, investigate, have fun. Come & go as you please with care.

Read more and Class Agreements

Want to read more about CI? Here’s a good resource to start (https://contactquarterly.com/contact-improvisation/about/index.php) and please make sure to review our class agreements before attending (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1asVGdyI2luB3TrVKXaIhrGOeJwhq4pMQEXrvgS86JhM/edit?usp=sharing)

More contact improvisation in the SF Bay Area

Here's the full contact improvisation calendar for the SF Bay Area:http://bit.ly/norcalcontactimprov

Have more questions?

Reach out to Merrick here: www.merrickjacob.com

Host or Publisher the castro room