The Dancing Body: The Fundamentals of Contact Improvisation
Schedule
Sat May 23 2026 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
53 High Street, EX34 9QB Ilfracombe, United Kingdom | Barnstaple, EN
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A day workshop offering an introduction into some of the fundamental principles and techniques of Contact Improvisation (CI) as a dance practice. A brief definition of CI: "The improvised dance form is based on the communication between two moving bodies that are in physical contact and their combined relationship to the physical laws that govern their motion—gravity, momentum, inertia. The body, in order to open to these sensations, learns to release excess muscular tension and abandon a certain quality of willfulness to experience the natural flow of movement. Practice includes rolling, falling, being upside down, following a physical point of contact, supporting and giving weight to a partner." Contact Quarterly
We’ll be gently warming up our dancing bodies in solo exercises before exploring what it means to go in and out of contact and into a dance with others. As it is a very open practice it can be suitable to anyone, including those with no prior experience. You can expect gentle guided exercises and experiences that aim to demystify the practice and to open us to improvising together, and will include movement, touch and time for reflection.
Please do contact us in advance with any access needs. We’ll be happy to hear from you and want to make this workshop open and accessible.
Teachers:
Sole de la Hoz teaches Contact Improvisation in London and festivals in the Uk (eg. Temenos Dance, The Sanctuary, CI@Goldsmiths, London Contact Festival, Acland Burghley). She trained at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and works as a professional dancer in opera (ROH, ENO, Glyndebourne) as well as immersive productions and screen. She has a life dedicated to movement and continues her learning journey through regularly training in London and abroad, she is deeply grateful to her teachers. Alongside performing and Contact Improvisation Sole is a trainee psychotherapist in Process Oriented Psychology, Yoga Instructor, Thai Masseuse
Mark Rietema teaches Somatics and CI in London and abroad, and offers workshops, lectures and group facilitation around embodiment, dance and mental health in places such as King’s College, the NHS and grassroots groups. He works as a psychotherapist and somatic movement educator, having studied Process Oriented Psychology and Body-Mind Centering®. His previous background is in community arts projects and performances (UK, US) with an MA in Community Arts from Goldsmiths. He teaches as faculty for Embody Move UK, Institut Prozessarbeit Deutschland, as an associate in King's College, and as a guest teacher in various institutions. He recently completed an Erasmus research project around creative pedagogies in higher education.
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Where is it happening?
53 High Street, EX34 9QB Ilfracombe, United Kingdom, 53 High Street, Ilfracombe, EX34 9QB, United Kingdom, BarnstapleEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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