Week 5 was very different in comparison to the previous ones. First of all, readings were very short, but I found them really informative. I believe that these two informal articles by Daniel Lepkoff, grabbed my attention, because it is always more interesting to read and analyze someone’s personal experience, especially when it comes to dance. I felt that the author reminded me things which I have known already, but actually never thought about them. From the article ‘What is Release Technique’ (1999) I have understood that I am really ignoring my inner sensations and that makes me struggling most of the time. However, I am trying to be more optimistic and I keep repeating myself that noticing myself doing something wrong, means that I am learning. Another article, written by the same author, ‘Contact improvisation: a Question’ opened my mind about CI. I discovered that CI might be anything you like or prefer. Perhaps it depends a lot of on the community where you dance too. Some people can call it dance event, others – danced composition or performance. However, knowing that there are loads of terms that describes CI, makes me want to experience every single one by myself, to find which might suit me best and means the most for me. So, I made here conclusion from both articles to myself: I need to free my inner sensations while jamming, because being ‘open minded’ could help me to find my way of ‘contacting’ and dancing in general. Secondly, this week was different of course of our Research Labs. I was really surprised that basically almost all the groups where struggling with keeping the eye contact, even if everyone knew before that this is why we find it difficult to be ‘together’ in the moment. Personally for me, I enjoyed absorbing people who were doing my group’s tasks. I have noticed that girls were very much in their comfort zone. Of course, I cannot judge people, as CI is a very new dance experience for us, but here I ended with the idea that comfort zone is exactly the main reason why people struggling in dance. We are just too afraid to let new things happen. Maybe that it is why we get distracted so easily by the sounds and eye contact. Also, we tend to initiate movements from the arms than the other body parts, and sometimes we just do not try to show enough effort when working in a group or with a partner…
To sum up, after this week’s session, I feel more comfortable with myself and with others. I definitely understood how powerful is the eye contact. I felt even better in jam session this tis week as well! It is amazing, how one lesson could make such an influence for my ‘dancing habits’. I look forward to get ‘back on track’ after the reading week.
Lepkoff, D., 1999. What is Release Technique? [Online] Available at: http://www.daniellepkoff.com/Writings/What%20is%20Release.php
Lepkoff, D., January 2010. Contact Improvisation: A Question? [Online] Available at:http://www.daniellepkoff.com/Writings/CI%20A%20question.php