“点” と “和”Contact Improvisation WS in KyotoThis four-day workshop explores how our relationships with others and improvisation are directly connected to the way we live through the practice of Contact Improvisation and attentive listening to bodily sensations.In this workshop, Ten (点) represents the individual—each person as an independent body with their own sensations, experiences, and practice.Wa (和) refers to the moment when these individual points begin to connect through relationship, forming a shared circle of experience and collective presence.Rather than focusing only on movement techniques, this workshop emphasizes the transition from individual embodied practice (Ten) toward shared experience and collective exploration (Wa).⸻Part 1 | Open to All LevelsJuly 18 (Sat) – July 19 (Sun)18:00–21:00Designed for beginners as well as anyone with little or no experience in Contact Improvisation.Through somatic movement practices, participants will deepen their bodily awareness while learning the foundations of safe physical contact, partner work, listening skills, and the basic principles of Contact Improvisation.July 18- Somatic Tuning (45 min)
- Partner Work & CI Fundamentals (75 min)
- Guided Jam with Scores (45 min)
- Sharing Circle
July 19- Somatic Tuning (15 min)
- CI Foundation Class (90 min)
- Guided Jam with Scores (60 min)
- Sharing Circle
This weekend offers a supportive introduction into the practice of Contact Improvisation and prepares participants to enter CI jams with confidence and curiosity.⸻Part 2 | Deepening PracticeJuly 20 (Mon) & July 23 (Thu)Open to participants with previous CI experience or those who attended Part 1.Using anatomy and biomechanics as practical references, we will deepen our understanding of weight sharing, points of support, balance, negotiation, and embodied communication within Contact Improvisation.By first experiencing these principles physically and then understanding them from multiple perspectives, participants will gain practical tools for a richer and more enjoyable CI practice.July 20Tracing the CenterThrough partner bodywork, we will explore three primary centers of the body—the pelvis, chest, and head—and their relationship to the body’s central axis.By listening through touch and observing spinal movement, we develop the sensitivity to respond to emerging movement while exploring clear contact points, balance, support, and the unfolding of dance.- Class (1 hr 45 min)
- Guided Jam with Scores (60 min)
- Sharing Circle
⸻July 23From Center to Dynamic SupportBuilding upon the embodied awareness developed in Tracing the Center, we will explore dynamic support and weight sharing within continuously changing movement.How do we support another person while also allowing ourselves to be supported?Together we will investigate fluidity, effortless lifting opportunities, and the physical as well as psychological responses that arise through these exchanges.Using strength, surrendering weight, trusting, or attempting to control are all natural patterns that emerge in dance. By observing these responses, we cultivate greater adaptability, responsiveness, and freedom in our relational movement.This final session serves as an integration of the previous three days, offering further refinement alongside longer periods of open improvisational exploration.- Class (1 hr 45 min)
- Guided Jam with Scores (60 min)
- Sharing Circle
⸻About Contact ImprovisationContact Improvisation is an improvised movement practice in which two or more people explore movement through physical contact.It is rooted in weight sharing, balance, touch, and deep listening, allowing movement to emerge through the body’s spontaneous responses rather than predetermined choreography.Although this workshop involves physical touch, it is not intended as a space for sexual expression or interaction.⸻FeeSingle Day — ¥4,000Two-Day Pass — ¥7,500Full Four-Day Workshop — ¥14,000Participation on individual days is possible, although attending at least two consecutive days is recommended.Due to the size of the venue, Part 1 is limited to eight participants.⸻RegistrationRegistration opens July 1.Please register using the following form:https://forms.gle/WDuG3pqWcJdDxf3J9⸻What to Bring- Water
- Long pants (a long-sleeved shirt is also recommended)
- Towel
- Notebook and pen
Please avoid wearing jewelry, clothing with belts, or slippery fabrics.⸻FacilitatorMikis Tapaswi.