DANC 254 - Contact Improvisation

Contact Improvisation is an open-ended form of dance that embraces the possibilities of bodies moving together in physical contact through weight sharing, embodied listening, and collaborative movement. Arising in the early 1970s, a time of questioning social and institutional norms, contact improvisers continue to be drawn to how the practice challenges gender roles, hierarchical structures, and notions of physical ability while developing capacities of immediacy, responsiveness, and trust. Learning Contact Improvisation involves developing skills related to weight sharing, kinesthetic awareness, falling, rolling, and the use of touch, as well as communication, curiosity, respect, and care. Readings, viewings, and discussions on the history of Contact Improvisation and social and cultural issues of contemporary practice will provide context for our studio investigations. This class supports and encourages diversity, different points of view, approaches, and experience. Students enrolled in the course for one unit will undertake additional readings and studio projects.

Unit(s): Variable: 0.5 - 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group I
Instructional Method: Conference-studio
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 2 times for credit
Notes:

One year of dance technique or one year of creative work in visual art, music, theatre, or creative writing is recommended but not required.
This course may apply toward the dance studio or studies requirement.
Students may register for this course as PE instead of Dance to receive PE credit instead of academic credit.

Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Understand how arguments can be made, visions presented, or feelings or ideas conveyed through language or other modes of expression (symbols, movement, images, sounds, etc.).
Analyze and interpret texts, whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts.
Evaluate arguments made in or about texts (whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts).