Philly Contact Improv Class/Jam

Last night, Alex and I drove up to Philly to take a great contact class taught by Angie Hauser, followed by a jam.

Angie led us through a class with a thoracic focus: thoracic spine and ribs, shoulders, hands (with feet as a bonus!). She led us through a hands-on articulation of chest and shoulders that finished with full-body contact improv. Then we practiced dancing alone and with others. In groups of four, one soloist improvised across the floor, then the other three responded to the solo while dancing together along a similar pathway.

It was a lovely, varied class. Angie is a personable, thoughtful teacher. I am distracted in her classes, however, by how beautifully she moves. Maybe I always envy my favorite teachers a bit: Eiko, Bebe Miller, Sara Pearson.... Maybe to love a teacher is partly to want to be her.

In the jam that followed I had a slow, tender duet with Rowen of the Philly Contact Collective for at least half an hour. Alex, our tall, robust veteran, danced ably with a woman almost half his size.

It was a long drive home and I have been tired all day. It was a delightful experience nevertheless.

Human Landscape Dance will return to Philadelphia Saturday May 29 at 7:30pm and Sunday May 30 to perform with Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co in the Philadelphia/Washington DC Exchange at the Painted Bride Art Center.