Contact Improvisation + Jam

Join The Castro Room for a playful evening of contact improvisation.
A guided pre-jam class will be from 7:45 - 8:45p and then will flow directly into a jam until 10:15p.

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!

*Class 7:45-8:45pm taught by Merrick Jacob
*Jam 8:45-10:15pm with live music by Alex Gilman

Come for the whole evening or feel free to drop-in to the jam anytime
TEACHER & HOST: Merrick Jacob
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 at www.merrickjacob.com
JAM MUSICIAN: Alex Gilman
Alex Gilman (Aletheia) is a psychedelic, improvisational musician from Sonoma County, CA. Using electric guitar loops, his ambient soundscapes explore timbral textures, harmonic richness, counterpoint melodies and rhythms, and the hidden complexity in simplicity. His music aims to evoke embodied presence and cosmic delight. You can find some of his recordings on his Bandcamp: https://aletheiamusicca.bandcamp.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

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