JUST ANOTHER NIGHT AT THE JAM Contact Improv Dance-- a touch-based movement, art-sport and mindfulness practice; A new paradigm for whole-self social relating. Experienced and written by Harmony Gates 3/14/2014 Not me, but beautiful men dancing CI Its Thursday night and I show up at the Thursday Jam. It's 8:30 pm. As I enter the dance space, the ballroom at the Finnish Hall, a bright, sexy young man makes direct and steady eye contact with me (he obviously knows me?) He showers me with recognition and affection. I don't recognize or remember him, but I welcome his connection and engagement. We sit and talk until he gets up to greet someone else. I put on my kneepads and toe-less sox, my contact improv dancing 'gear'. I'm sitting on a bench that runs along an entire side of the hi ceilinged 'Finnish Hall'. There is a matching bench that runs along the other side of the room. The floor is a beautifully rich hardwood that is smooth as silk. The ceiling is high...
Life is change, energy flows, and attention creates. By the movement of our attention and the choice of our focus, we freshly create our experience in each moment. I've found that when we actively attend and explore through our senses, we bring greater awareness to all aspects of our being and consequently into all areas of our lives. By sharing my personal explorations, observations and experiences I hope to inspire a more vibrant Aliveness in others.