Join The Castro Room for a playful evening of contact improvisation. Teacher + Jam Musician varies each session. This class will be taught by Rahul Madanahalli with live jam music by Catie Riggs.
A guided pre-jam class will be from 7:45 - 8:45p and then will flow directly into a jam until 10:15p. In class, we’ll explore themes of weight-sharing, counterbalancing, signaling, listening, and everything in-between. The jam that follows is an opportunity to continue researching your movement & relational curiosities that sparked from class. First-timers and experienced dancers are all very welcome!
*Class 7:45-8:45p
*Jam 8:45-10:15p
Come for the whole evening or feel free to drop-in to the jam anytime
Teacher:
Rahul Madanahalli (he / they) is a movement artist in the East Bay (Huichin Ohlone land). His contact improvisation practice is rooted in a love for deep listening, playfulness, and not-knowing. He’s grateful to have learned from many great teachers, including Mihyun Lee, Scott Wells, Chris Aiken, & KJ Holmes. Beyond the CI classes & workshops, Rahul's movement practice is influenced by a spiritual support group, hypnotic techno, & aquatic bodywork / dance. He has also performed in various dance improvisation pieces by Kyle Filley and Nkechi Njaka at venues such as the De Young Museum, Sawtooth Building, and Safehouse Arts. Within the local CI community, Rahul volunteers as a jam host, teaches contact improv classes, & facilitates a monthly warm water contact improvisation dance lab.
Musician:
Catie Riggs is an artist, musician, and acoustician based in San Francisco. As a dancer of lindy, blues, and fusion, she loves exploring different styles of music and movement. Her live music is based in improvisation, and experiments with guitar and keyboard in a range of contemplative moods, from melodic and meandering, to delirious dins.
Host:
Merrick Jacob is a lover of movement, continuously in awe of the body and its potential for delightful expression, wild creativity, & authentic connection. Influenced by her practices of contact improvisation, figure skating, acroyoga, and hand-balancing, she guides playful movement experiences as an opportunity for deep listening, research, and co-creation. Merrick hosts contact improvisation across the SF Bay Area. Say hi here: merrickjacob.com
About Contact Improvisation, Agreements, FAQS
First time?
Is it your first time hearing of this movement form? It can be defined in many ways. I love this definition from Ray Chung, “Contact Improvisation is an open-ended exploration of the kinaesthetic possibilities of bodies moving through contact. Sometimes wild and athletic, sometimes quiet and meditative, it is a form open to all bodies and enquiring minds.”Curious first-timers to experienced dancers are all very welcome!
What happens in class and do I need a partner?
Class is a time to explore themes of weight-sharing, counterbalancing, signaling, listening, and everything in-between in solo, duets, and as a group. Each teacher brings their own unique flavor to the class. No need to come with a partner. The teacher will facilitate pairing people together and switching partners throughout the class.
What's a jam?
This is an opportunity to continue researching your movement & relational curiosities that sparked from class or just to enjoy sharing creative movement space together. Dance, witness, investigate, have fun. Come & go as you please with care.
Price: $25 for Class + Jam
$10 for Jam only