Connected to yourself
Connection to yourself is vital for great dances: grounding, relaxing, breathing, awareness of the state of your body and focus, stability in standing
Connected to others
Sensing weight and direction, connect physically and/or mentally with the center of your partner(s), being ready for anything that can happen
Lazy & Acrobatic
Dancing through laziness, effortlessly, slow and fast, rolling on the ground to lifting in the air
What is Contact Improvisation?
Contact improvisation is a practice of movement research, where
improvisation and momentum, relation with gravity and with others
are the main focus.
This form has been developing internationally since 1972 and it started from the exploration, research and inquiries of Steve Paxton. It involves the exploration of one’s body in relation to others and the space of presence they visit, by using the fundamentals of sharing weight, touch, and movement awareness. It has evolved into a broad global community around “jams” characterized by their welcoming attitude towards newcomers to dance, as well as seasoned practitioners, and its fundaments relate with dancing without being guided by music, instead, the dancers learn to listen to the sounds that the dance itself brings.
Read more on Wikipedia
Contact impro by Otto
I’ve been dancing since 2004, exploring all kinds of styles and movement practices including contemporary dance, movement improvisation, Gaga dance, partner acrobatics and more.
Somewhere around 2007/2008 I dipped my toes in the practice of contact improvisation for the first time. I found it quite shocking the first time – I was only used to technical classes with precise steps to remember – so it took me three months before I dared to step into it again. After that second time I was sold, and went as often as I could to classes, jams & festivals in the Netherlands & Germany.
As a teacher I like to hand practical tools to my students, techniques and pathways to use in contact improvisation. I combine this with focussing on relaxation, breathing and a bit of introspection to keep in contact with the self, as it is easy to lose yourself in the dance or the other.
The Northern Jam, by Andrea & Barbara
Andrea Sangiacomo
..is a philosopher, meditator and mover. He has a background in Ashtanga Yoga (200h teacher training with Gregor Maehle and Monica Gauci), conscious and ecstatic dance (facilitator training with Brian Bergman and DanceTheMedicine), “Contact Beyond Contact” (facilitator level 2). He studies Contact Improvisation in the Netherlands and abroad and is currently doing a one-year CI teacher training in Freiburg.
Barbara van Male
..is a dancer, movement researcher and editor. She practices CI since 10 years and has a background in contemporary dance and performance projects in public space, capoeira, tango, meditation (and ballet and judo in her childhood). She joined several intensives and trainings in CI, Axis syllabus, BMC, tango and contemporary dance by renowned international teachers.
More info & tickets about The Northern Jam on Hipsy
General info on classes, workshops, jams & more
In Groningen, there are different ways to enjoy Contact Improvisation.
Wednesday classes
Otto teaches Contact Improvisation classes on Wednesdays. Lifts, weight sharing, being aware of your moving body and that of your partner, rolling point of contact, rolling on the floor and up in the air! The class is open for beginners to advanced dancers.
Price: 15 euro per class, cash or Tikkie before/after the class
Sunday Contact Impro Jams
Come join us for a playful dance jam! Let’s explore movement in relation to others, the floor, and the space. Each session will start with a guided warm-up in which we tune in with the basic principles of CI; sharing weight, touch and body awareness. Every Body is welcome, no matter how much experience you have.
Price: 10 euro, cash or Tikkie before/after the jam
The Northern Jam
The Northern Jam is a new initiative by Andrea Sangiacomo and Barbara van Male that aims to support, facilitate and spread CI in Groningen and the northern Netherlands. It takes place once a month, often the third Sunday, and usually consists of a workshop, potluck and jam session. The Northern Jam is open to complete beginners and movers from different disciplines. Diversity and minorities are encouraged.The Northern Jam is a new initiative by Andrea Sangiacomo and Barbara van Male that aims to support, facilitate and spread CI in Groningen and the northern Netherlands. It takes place once a month, often the third Sunday, and usually consists of a workshop, potluck and jam session. The Northern Jam is open to complete beginners and movers from different disciplines. Diversity and minorities are encouraged.
Go to Hipsy for tickets for The Northern JamAgenda for coming months
Ci organized by Otto
Classes in 2025
* January 15: Wednesday class by Otto (Travertijnstraat, 16.30-18.30)
* January 22: Wednesday class by Otto (Travertijnstraat, 16.30-18.30)
* January 29: Wednesday class by Otto (Travertijnstraat, 16.30-18.30)
*February 5: Wednesday class by Otto (Travertijnstraat, 16.30-18.30)
Sunday Jams in 2025
* January 12: Sunday Jam (Travertijnstraat, 15.30-17.30)
Workshops in 2025
* January 26: Workshop ‘The Spine’ in Al Nour, Groningen (click on the Andrea & Barbara link below)
Ci organized by Andrea & Barbara
Click for more info about Andrea & Barbara’s events on Hipsy
Classes
* January 31: Get in Contact (Al Nour)
Workshops & Jams in 2025
* January 26: The Northern Jam with workshop by Otto (Al Nour)
* February 23: The Northern Jam (Al Nour)
* March 23: The Northern Jam (Al Nour)
* April 13: The Northern Jam (Al Nour)
Weekends
* May 30 – June 1 2025: The Northern Jam: XL Edition
Guidelines for the classes & jams
For us all it is very important to create a safe, free and open atmosphere, in which we feel safe and supported to be ourselves, to be playful and vulnerable.
In touch with yourself
Contact means: being in touch with yourself and your surroundings, in a playful, improvised and spontaneous way, whilst dancing/meeting each other being with ourselves.
Own risk
Joining our sessions is always on your own risk! We are not responsible for any physical injury.
Boundaries
Everyone is responsible for their own boundaries. Meaning, we can’t feel what just feels right for you. Sometimes it feel right to sit for yourself and take a break, walk through the room or only dance with 1 person in that jam/class. Never fear to reject somebody if the situation does not feel right for you.
Body signals
Pay attention to your body signals. Often in daily life we don’t listen to them, this is an opportunity to create more awareness for our body.
Be careful with intimacy
In comparison to other dance forms contact improvisation is not meant to be as some couple interaction to raise mutual attraction or act it out, but as an intuitive form of non-verbal communication through movement. Please don’t follow some hidden agenda to find intimacy with your partners.
Free to step out
During the class/jam you are free to step out, sit on the side, walk out of the room, or do whatever feels good for you.
Limit talking
No regular communication during the session, body language and verbal exited gibberish sounds are okay.
No shoes, jewellery or perfume
No shoes are worn on the dance floor. Also take off jewellery that can hurt you or your partner. And please don’t wear (strong) perfume, you already smell good!
Address & Directions
Travertijnstraat 12, 9743 SZ, GroningenDirections to the studio
1. When you leave the public road (Travertijnstraat), enter the terrain of the building Travertijn 12 (by car/bike/foot)
2. Immediately keep right (by car/bike/foot)
3. Follow the Dance Studio-signs on the right side
4. Go all around the building on the bumpy road until you can’t go any further
5. You see the contact impro-studio on your left on the corner of the building.
There is (free) parking space for 3 cars. If it’s full, you can also park on other (free) spots.
Click here for exact directions via Google MapsInspirational videos
If you want to see what Conctact improvisation is in movement, or are looking for some inspiration, you can watch these videos.
Contact
If you have questions about classes, jams, prices, or want to be on the mailing list for updates in your mailbox: fill in this form and I will get back to you 🙂
Contact info
Signal/Whatsapp/Phone
+31610597889