I had the pleasure of teaching the Contact Improvisation class for the last two quarters at University of Califronia Davis and just read my last student's reflection papers. It's great to hear again and again how the stuff in and around CI inspires, engages and changes their lives.

The students came to the class from all kinds of backgrounds, histories and places. Most were studying in the sciences and literally had no idea what they were getting themselves into or thought it was a comedy improv class. 15-29 would drop, and 20-30 would stick it out. But after getting over the initial shocks of human touch and rolling on the floor, students often said that the class was a special time and place where we engaged in physical activities and connections that were not possible anywhere else.

Students were able to alter their perceptions (without the use of pharmaceuticals), decompress from the stress of life and create relationships that were not possible in their 500-person lecture halls. We had many conversations where we waited and listened to what each other had to say and slowly built trust between us. Most feedback confirmed that CI work transformed their lives for the better, not only on the dance floor but also in the everyday. They felt more confident relaxed and engaged in the world because of it. One student claims that she earned better grades on her Neurobiology tests because of it. Another student says that the class helped her dispel the belief that she could not be dancer because she was kicked out of ballet for not having the “right” kind of body.

For me contact improvisation, in this University context, frames an inclusive research laboratory into physical and social embodiments. It offers a much needed balance between practices of thinking (sitting) and doing (moving), and illustrates how the one needs the other. In CI we get to ask the questions: What can my body do? What is my body capable of? (Deleuze) And what can bodies do together? The latter question possibly being a more important one. So this rant was initially sparked by one my student’s lovely CI poetry. Thanks for sharing your word movements Polly Golikova! (See below)