Michael Shacrur

The relationship at the point of contact

Exploring 3 basic possibilities of response to touch

This class will focus on the nature of the relationship established immidiately at the

point of contact. It might touch on the very basic emotional meaning of touch. It is not

a technique class but in the last part will explore how the play between the 3 options

affords for beautiful, skillful, and complex dancing.

An important aspect of this class is the inclusion of the mostly ignored option of moving

away from contact. This option is often a natural instinctive impulse that we repress in c.i.

It is actually very empowering and playful.

There are basically 3 things we can do when we are touched:

1: avoid the touch, move away from it, disengage the contact, say no to the relationship.

2: stay with the touch, yield to it, open to it, absorb it, merge with it, accept and be

in the relationship.

3: push against the touch, give weight, resist, assert yourself, commit yourself and establish

boundaries in the relationship.

We will explore each separately, isolating each and taking each to its extreme.

In this way we will distill the essence of each possibility and get to know its deeper qualities.

Then we will play with mixing them and discovering greater choice, greater dynamics,

greater feeling, and greater personal involvement in the dance.