A peek inside the Contact Improvisation community in Amare
Did you know that Amare is a place to meet up for all sorts of initiatives? One you might not know about, is the weekly get-togethers of the Contact Improvisation community of the Hague in one of the foyers of Amare. We asked Laurentiu Soarece, organizer, to tell us more.
Hi Laurentiu, could you shortly introduce yourself?
“Hi, I am Laurentiu Soarece and a Contact Improvisation geek. I fell in love with this dance practice seven years ago. Since then I am continually trying to improve and practice this type of art. I am an engineer by profession, and therefore constantly searching how we can improve the quality of life using movement.”
Could you explain to us what Contact Improvisation is and where it originated?
“Contact Improvisation is an improvisational dance form that has its roots in the early history of what has come to be known as post-modern dance. The form grew out of a performance score called Magnesium, developed by Steve Paxton in 1972, that was rooted in an exploration of how two bodies can improvise freely with a shared point of contact. Subsequently, Paxton gathered together a group of dancers who worked intensively together before presenting the work again to an audience, this time under the name Contact Improvisation.
Contact Improvisation is an exploration of movement. We explore what happens when bodies get in contact and connect. How are the energies continuously flowing and interacting with each other? What makes us move and how can we be aware of the environment and everyone around us? At the same time, we learn how to create an artistic form of movement.”
What made you fall in love with Contact Improvisation?
“Before I practiced Contact Improvisation I was practicing Aikido, a Japanese martial art. This has made me aware of the flow of energy in general, and between people in particular. I just love it when the energy flows in a smooth way!”
How has the community in Amare been developing?
“We have been practicing in Amare for one year now. What brought us here, is our openness to develop cultural activities in The Hague for the people that need it.
Community plays an important role in Contact Improvisation. It’s always evolving and growing. Some people come and go, they come to explore for a short period of time. But some people actively invest their time and energy into Contact Improvisation The Hague and have been nurturing and sustaining it. They form the essence of our community. Like our committed David Middendorp, a very passionate dancer who helps with pictures, teaching and made a very nice trailer to give a glimpse of what we do.”
Can anyone join this special dance form?
“Yes, anyone who is open to explore the movement and flow between two bodies. There is not necessarily a basic entry level for Contact Improvisation. It can be practiced and danced at different levels.
The Contact Improvisation community meets on Sundays in the Waltz, the room above the Spinoza Foyer in Amare. We start 19:30-21:00 with a Class (with warm up) and then from 21:00-22:30 a JAM. There is no participation fee, but you are more than welcome to make a free donation.
Please note the leading language spoken in class is English. If you want to join, please get in contact with me (Laurentiu) before joining on Whatsapp or Facebook.”
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