Contact Improv - Brisbane
Contents
About
There is a Contact Improv community in Brisbane... and got some lovely people.
In the wider Brisbane area, I think there are a few gatherings, but the main one in Brisbane is "Contact Improv Dance Brisbane" with no weekly events every Thursday evening (~6:30pm - 8:30pm) at Haiku Arts & Yoga Studio in West End (map). It is typically run by Gabriel Reese, although since mid-2024 others will sometimes lead jams - which is really exciting. I believe every ~3rd week will be a lesson (and the other ones jams)... but, like all these pages, you'll need to check the Facebook site (or better yet ask to be added to the Facebook chat group) for the latest timetable before you just show up!
What is Contact Improv
Contact Improvisation is a form of dance characterized by fluid movement and spontaneous physical interaction between partners, where touch serves as the primary means of communication. Originating in the early 1970s, it drew inspiration from martial arts, modern dance, and physical therapy practices. In Contact Improvisation, dancers explore the physics of their bodies in motion—gravity, momentum, and inertia—allowing for an organic, evolving dance that can range from stillness to highly dynamic exchanges. There's no set choreography; instead, participants respond in the moment to the movements of their partners, leading to unique and unpredictable dances. This form emphasizes awareness, responsiveness, and the physical dialogue between dancers, making it a deeply personal and communal experience.
What's Special About This Event and Venue
Depending on the night, you might have (5-12) people. Intimate yet the room can feel full and *during* the workshop itself, they try to keep it safe, and minimise any flirting behaviour that apparently scared away a few or my female friends in the past. Just remember that you are at choice and listen to your body and your limits/injuries before you try any new moves. While there is a lot of teaching experience, I've also hurt my knee and seen a couple of other minor incidents when I or others have gotten a little to rambunctious. That said, I've learned a lot, so intend to go to more, especially given that they are sharing around the leading of the course now.
Gabriel tends to play soft music in the background. Purists would argue that contact improv should be in total silence, but I like subtle music because it adds another layer and level of unpredictability to each dance you share with another. Everyone here is (usually) down to dance with each other, but that also can be intimidating to newcomers or people not confident in setting boundaries. One thing to appreciate is that this little intimate space has padded rubber floors. Typically contact improv is done on wooden floors, but I liked the padding to help minimise the chance of bruising. That's a big plus for me. I usually like to wear knee pads, but they seemed unnecessary on this floor.
Sincerely,
Andrew Noske
See Also
- Contact Improv... more info about this style of dance meditation.
Links
- Brisbane Contact Improv Australia... honestly, it's pretty hard to lock them down to one Facebook Group... you are better off getting someone to add you to the Facebook "Brisbane CI community" chat group.
| Acknowledgements: Big gratitude to the incredible Mike for introducing me to this dance event, and some of my female friends for explaining the interesting if not slightly rocky history of contact improv. |
