What is CI-CPH?
CI-CPH is short for Contact Improvisation Copenhagen. CI-CPH is a non-profit organisation that offers classes, jams, workshops and other events related to contact improvisation and contemporary dance improvisation.
CI-CPH is a community of engaged dancers and movers, of experienced teachers, of beautiful musicians. We dance because we love to dance.
What is Contact Improvisation?
Contact Improvisation is dance and improvisation principles and techniques. Our practice supports your sense of being present, of listening, trusting your immediate ability to respond. An approach to expanding awareness, into your own body, towards your dance partners, towards engaging with space and gravity.
Contact Improvisation offer tools and ideas for partner work and creative movement discoveries. Our dance practice support dancers and movers through tools such as re-alignment, release technique and re-discovering the physicality of touch.
We embrace a consious approach to movement and human interaction, and welcome both professional dancers and performers as well as dancers and movers of all ages and backgrounds.
The training is a playful combination of technical exploration, movement research and open improvisation.
As a practice, contact improvisation continues to be developed and deepened by dancers and teachers all over the world.
Why dance improvisation?
Contact Improvisation and contemporary dance improvisation supports our bodies in feeling confident and aware, enhances our natural sense of connectivity, of rhythm and responding from the body.
Practicing Contact Improvisation helps us move in the “now”, and to re-connect with the natural confidence and playfulness of our childhood bodies. Contact improvisation and dance improvisation allows us to enter non-verbal dialogue spaces, and to connect physically with other dancers, exploring and researching in a safe environment.
What to expect in a class or workshop?
Contact Improvisation is equally popular among men, women and non-binaries, we dance both solo and with partners, duo, trio, group.
Partner dancing is not gender specific, and you share the space with people that meets you mood and physicality in different ways.
There are no given steps, but principles and techniques are to be explored, on the floor and in the air, from slow to fast. The basic techniques are available to anyone who likes to move and dance.
A class or workshop is usually presents ideas of basic principles, and move towards exploring specific topics. Classes and workshops are open to all levels, unless otherwise stated.
Expect a good work out, physical dialogue and encounters, beautiful and challenging dances, and a space where we communicate through movement, rather than talk.
Best to wear soft, comfortable clothes, t-shirt w long sleeves and long training pants, knee pads are warmly recommended.
What is a jam?
A “jam” is an open forum for practicing Contact Improvisation and dance improvisation, a creative space where dance interaction opens for both playful and spontanuos composition and research.
We mostly work with live music, sometimes silence, the main idea is listening to the dance, we are co-creating, always unfolding new constellations and ideas.
We use the actual floor a lot, and sometimes move into the air, in solos, duos, trios quartets. Our attention is on the energy of the dance field, dancers are always free to move in and out of dancing, to observe, to rest, and get back on the floor.
We don’t use phones or start conversations in the dance space.
To attend a jam, we recommend to have a basic knowledge of contact improvisation, best to take at least 2-3 classes before.
Some jams have a score (guideline/theme), some have live music, some silence, some many people, some few. Children can be welcome, ask the organizer – all jams are unique.
A “jam” is the dancers space to explore and challenge yourself, a space to grow as a dancer, integrating our dance own experiences and style.
A jam is also a great way to connect with new dance partners and meet colleagues, to dance with new and old friends, to move, play and improvise together.
How do I join?
Come and dance, dancers and movers with all levels of experience are very welcome. You will find the announcements of open classes, jams and workshops on this page and in our facebook group.
Just ask if you have any questions.
Many greetings
CI-CPH