contact improv vermont

- 149 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401

For residents of Vermont seeking a unique, profound form of movement practice that goes far beyond traditional dance or fitness, Contact Improv Vermont stands as the region's dedicated hub for the art of Contact Improvisation (CI). This organization, based in the heart of Burlington, is an active training center and community space committed to fostering an open-ended exploration of movement, touch, and physical dialogue. CI is a spontaneous art-sport where two or more bodies move together through a shared point of contact, navigating the physical laws of gravity, momentum, and inertia. It is often described as a meeting point of physics, meditation, and playfulness, making it a truly holistic practice.

Contact Improv Vermont welcomes all bodies and enquiring minds, regardless of prior experience in dance or athletics. The essence of the practice is an authentic, real-time conversation conducted through the body, teaching participants ease of movement, comfortable ways to share and receive weight, and how to cultivate deep awareness using the eyes, ears, and skin. This practice is deeply rooted in community, providing a welcoming environment to investigate interpersonal connection. The mission extends beyond the studio floor, embracing an intersection of somatics with social and environmental justice, reflecting Vermont’s values of community evolution, safety, and inclusivity.

This training center serves as a vital anchor for the improvisational movement scene in Northern Vermont, offering a sustained tradition of classes, workshops, and open "jams." For many local movers, the practice of contact improvisation is transformative, offering profound lessons in communication, vulnerability, and trust. It provides a metaphor for life's challenges, teaching participants to approach predicaments with groundedness, openness, and possibility. Whether you are a professional dancer, a recreational mover, or simply curious about a new way to connect your mind and body, Contact Improv Vermont offers the structure and community needed to begin and deepen your journey.

Contact Improv Vermont's activities and events are frequently centered around a highly visible and accessible location in downtown Burlington, ensuring ease of access for local Vermonters and visitors alike.

Address: 149 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA

The address places the organization in a key venue often associated with community events, such as Burlington's City Hall, which facilitates large-scale gatherings like the annual international jam. Being in the downtown area of Vermont’s largest city means the location is easily reached via local public transit and is a convenient destination for those traveling from across Chittenden County and beyond.

Accessibility is an acknowledged priority, reflecting the organization’s commitment to inclusivity. The venue provides a Wheelchair accessible parking lot, ensuring that the transformative experience of improvisational movement is available to as many members of the Vermont community as possible. This central, accessible location is crucial for a training center that prides itself on creating an inclusive, evolving, and co-created community space.

Contact Improv Vermont focuses on the sustained practice and development of Contact Improvisation through various formats, catering to beginners looking for an introduction and experienced movers seeking to deepen their skills. The offerings are built around the form's core elements of somatic inquiry, physical dialogue, and community gathering.

Key services and offerings typically provided by this training center include:

• Improv Class / Group Lessons: Structured classes and series focused on teaching the fundamentals and advanced techniques of Contact Improvisation. These Group Lessons cover concepts like ease of movement, weight sharing, rolling, falling, and techniques for cultivating kinesthetic awareness.
• Weekly Jams (Open Practice): Leaderless practice environments where dancers of all levels—friends and strangers, old and young—gather to practice the dance form spontaneously. The jam is the principal learning space for CI, allowing for free exploration of movement and connection.
• Annual International Contact Jam: A major, multi-day event, typically held in Burlington, that draws local practitioners and guest artists, featuring intensives, workshops, guided warm-ups, outdoor performance scores, and community gatherings.
• Private and Group Lessons (Workshops/Intensives): Specialized workshops and intensive study periods led by experienced CI artists and practitioners, focusing on specific aspects of the form, contemporary approaches, or related somatic practices.
• The Underscore Practice: Structured, long-form improvisation events that guide participants through various stages of movement, including solo, contact, and group choreography.
• Specialized Thematic Classes: Past offerings have included classes like "Listening from Within: Foundational Practices of Contact Improvisation Series" and specific introductory classes for diverse groups, underscoring the commitment to accessible entry points into the form.
• Community Development and Social Justice Dialogues: Hosting forums and discussions on creating safer, more inclusive spaces, consent culture, and the intersection of embodiment practices with social and environmental justice issues.

What makes Contact Improv Vermont a standout point of interest in the Vermont arts and wellness community is its dedication to both the rigor of the form and the cultivation of a thoughtful, supportive community culture.

The distinctive features and highlights of this organization include:

• The Annual Burlington International Contact Jam: This highly anticipated yearly event is a significant highlight, bringing renowned teachers and a diverse range of practitioners to the Burlington area for a concentrated period of learning, dancing, and community-building.
• Commitment to Inclusivity and Safety: The community places a strong emphasis on continuous evolution and dialogue to create a safer, more inclusive container for practice. This includes prioritizing consent culture, offering sliding scale pricing ($5-10 suggested for weekly jams), and ensuring no one is turned away for lack of funds.
• Practice for All Levels: The principle of welcoming "all bodies and enquiring minds" is central. The environment encourages beginners to ask for guidance and experienced dancers to develop technique, focusing on curiosity and presence rather than pre-determined performance.
• Fusion of Art, Sport, and Meditation: Unlike typical dance studios or gyms, Contact Improv Vermont offers an evolving system of movement that serves as an art event, a rigorous physical practice, and a deeply meditative inquiry into communication and self-awareness.
• Somatic and Social Justice Focus: The organization actively engages with the wider network of CI practitioners dedicated to social justice, seeing the movement practice as a form of "embodiment activism" and a way to radically change one's relationship to touch and interpersonal connection.
• Centralized Downtown Location: Using highly accessible venues like City Hall in downtown Burlington ensures the organization’s events are easily reached by Vermont community members and are highly visible within the city’s cultural landscape.

To connect with the Contact Improv Vermont community and inquire about classes, jams, and annual events in the Burlington area, please use the following information.

Address: 149 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA

Phone: (800) 571-1198

Mobile Phone: +1 800-571-1198

Vermont residents are encouraged to reach out to inquire about the current weekly jam schedules, class series, and details on upcoming workshops, particularly the annual International Contact Jam.

Choosing Contact Improv Vermont is choosing a unique path to personal and communal well-being that resonates deeply with the Green Mountain State’s culture of thoughtful engagement and active, mindful living.

For the Vermont user, this organization is worth choosing because it provides a potent antidote to modern isolation and a powerful tool for self-discovery. The practice of Contact Improvisation is a shortcut to life lessons, teaching skills that transcend the dance floor: enhanced interpersonal communication, trust, vulnerability, teamwork, and an ability to stay centered and grounded amidst physical disorientation. This is a chance to participate in a movement that is a "presence practice," cultivating attention and curiosity in every moment.

Furthermore, the integrity and values of the organization, including its sliding scale payments and commitment to inclusivity, demonstrate a genuine focus on community care over profit, a characteristic highly valued by local Vermonters. By joining Contact Improv Vermont, you are not just signing up for an Improv Class; you are co-creating a supportive, evolving community that is dedicated to movement, dialogue, and social awareness. It is an opportunity to engage in a physical dialogue that leaves participants informed, centered, and enlivened, offering a rich and rewarding form of embodiment activism right here in Burlington.

contact improv vermont

149 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA