The Ten Sins of a Contact Improvisation Teacher

(Luckily, not mortal)

  1. Not speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.
  2. Complaining about not having enough time.
  3. Saying, “This can’t be put into words”.
  4. Codifying the material.
  5. Not accepting their own authority.
  6. Having too much enthusiasm, and too little substance.
  7. Not taking care of their own needs and boundaries.
  8. Pushing too hard on a student who is in stasis.
  9. Shaming a student in front of the class.
  10. Letting their own process of inquiry die.

Purpose of These Writings

I watched two contemporary dance teachers peering through a small window in a door in a large dance complex. Through that window they were observing a contact improvisation class. The students were sitting in a circle articulating their experiences with the previous dance.

One of the teachers said to the other: “I can’t believe they are…

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