Falling over and through boundaries of self – examining a possible interplay of Skinner Releasing Technique (SRT) and Contact Improvisation (CI)

Key words: Skinner Releasing Technique, Contact Improvisation, experience of self, falling, boundary, interoperability

Abstract:
The Skinner Releasing Technique is a somatic dance technique, developed in the early 60's by Joan Skinner whose early work was present when Contact Improvisation was investigated. SRT has a carefully and specifically developed pedagogy, it has a process like nature and it builds on experiential learning through imagery and touch. I have been practicing and teaching SRT for over17 years and CI for almost 20. Both influencing and underlying my approach of researching movement. Since a few years I have been exploring the possibility of applying and using the experiences of the SRT to build a specific energetic and listening landscape for a contact class and to serve a kind of readiness in order to support the physical understanding of the technique of CI. As SRT possibly adds an alternative multidimensionality of space to the concrete world of Contact, therefore the concrete body sensations during a CI duet can be fertilized by „another” world, which is emerging from the dynamic, image propelled kinesthetic experience of SRT.

In this paper I make an attempt to clarify my personal experiences and by bringing two concrete examples to investigate, I could possibly suggest an interoperability of the two. The examples are: Researching the different ways falling is experienced, taught and developed; the other is the different approach, experience and sense of boundary of the self. I wish to conclude by sharing some of my class materials, where the specific SRT practices and studies seemingly transition into the CI technique and dance practices.