Contact Essentials in Zurich

Join the Contact Essentials Workshop!

Whether you're a beginner wanting to explore this unique dance form, or you have some experience and are looking to deepen your practice in a fun way, this workshop is for you!

What to Expect:
- Introduction: Learn the basic concepts and history of Contact Improvisation.
- Philosophy: Embrace the philosophy of being present, listening, and sensing yourself and your partner.
- Practical Exercises: Engage in creative exercises designed to enhance your skills in balance, weight sharing, physical listening, attunement, spatial awareness, tactile sensitivity, and improvisation.
- Connecting with Partners: Experience contact with various partners.
- Free Movement: Enjoy sessions of free movement where you can explore and apply what you've learned.

Workshop Agenda:
1. Opening Circle: Breathing, introductions, short intro and philosophy.
2. Individual Warm-Up: Activating the spine, exploring gravity, rolling on the floor, sliding, movement with the wall, solo improvisation.
3. Warm-Up in Pairs: Creative movements with partners, trust and connection exercises, mirroring using peripheral vision, etc.
4. Skill Development: Negotiating pressure, taking and receiving weight, balance sharing, following and leading, maintaining contact, changing point of contact, sliding, rolling together, improvisation with focus on different body parts, beginning and end of the contact, etc.
5. Free Movement Session: Apply what you've learned with one or several partners.
6. Closing Circle: Sharing experiences and reflections.

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Contact Improvisation is a movement/dance form that fine-tunes your senses and wakes up your ability to listen and respond to what is happening in the moment. It helps develop self-awareness, emotional growth, and physical fitness.

Scientific research highlights many benefits:
- Physiological Benefits: Enhances physical coordination, balance, and flexibility. Engaging in dance practices like Contact Improvisation can relieve physical tension and reduce anxiety.
- Psychological Benefits: Promotes relaxation, calmness, and mindfulness. Building a connection and attunement with your partner fosters a deep sense of safety and emotional stability.
- Social and Emotional Growth: Helps develop trust and non-verbal communication skills, which can strengthen relationships both on and off the dance floor.

Examples of Contact Improvisation:

"Contact Improvisation is not just a dance form; it's a way of being, a way of moving through the world with heightened awareness and sensitivity to others." - Nancy Stark Smith
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Everyone is welcome, of all ages and genders. No prior dance experience is required. It is important that participants are comfortable engaging in physical contact with other bodies in the room. All interactions are consensual, and consent is a fundamental aspect of the workshop.
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Important: We start at 2 pm sharp, and aim to finish at 5 pm. We always start on time. Come 15 mins earlier. Doors open 30 mins before the start of event.
Location: Studio 1 in Tanzhaus Zurich.
Price: Standard 45 CHF. Students and unemployed: 35 CHF. Price: 45 CHF. Supporter ticket - 55 CHF: support the event, and help cover for Reduced tickets. If you can't pay, contact me in advance and still join us.
Language: English.
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Registration, payment:
https://The-Humans.ch

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Ekaterina Kamenskaya is a powerful creator, coach, mentor and an Azul conscious dance teacher from Zürich. She has a rich and diverse background:

- A PhD in Engineering and a scientific book publication
- A 17-year engineering career, including 13.5 years at Google
- Taught various courses to Google employees, such as Life Design, mindfulness, emotional intelligence based on neuroscience, human connection, etc.
- Led D&I and educational communities, gave talks at the various conferences
- Studied and practiced somatics, body psychotherapy and conscious dance
- Led multiple conscious dance workshops in Zurich since 2022

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[The photo: taken at the Contact Improvisation festival in Mexico, 2024. On the right is Yeny Sardón (IG: @sueltadhuesos, @yenysardonart).]

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