​​Come and join our next regular Contact Improvisation class and jam 😊

​Schedule

• ​​12:00 - 12:10: arrival and own warm-up

• ​​12:10 - 13:40: CI class with Penny Chivas

• ​​13:40 - 14:00: break

• ​​14:00 - 16:00: CI jam

​​Class

​Penny Chivas (she/her) is a Glasgow-based dance artist and maker originally from Ngunnawal Country, Australia. Alongside her dance work spanning performing, making, teaching and involvement in screendance work, Penny has a long-standing investment in Contact Improvisation. She has studied with Nancy Stark Smith multiple times who still remains as a deep source of inspiration for her teaching practices, and has led Underscores in both Glasgow and London. In 2013, she co-founded @TheGlasgowJam with Tom Pritchard, an organisation to support the development of CI in Glasgow including delivering 'New Jammers' in 2014 supported by Creative Scotland mentoring upcoming jam facilitators and teachers. With a passion to share this work more broadly, Penny has taught CI for inclusive companies such as EveryBody (Nuremberg), Danskompaniet Spinn (Sweden) and Indepen-dance (Glasgow), as well as for the Invisible Centre of Contemporary Dance (Iran), London Contact Improvisation, Beijing Contact Improvisation and dance training courses such as Riveria (Finland), and the PPY at Sydney Dance Company. Penny has performed the work of Karen Kaeja, Pam Johnson (both Canada) and Vanessa Grasse (Leeds) who all draw upon their CI practices to inform their choreographic practices.

Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, Penny spent time studying with Daniel Lepkoff in August 2024 in Prague. More info at https://penny-chivas.squarespace.com

​​Contact Improvisation Jam

​​Contact Improvisation explores the possibilities for movement with a partner or a group. It uses a natural flow of weight, momentum, as well as more subtle connections through touch and the other senses. The form encourages groundedness, listening to one’s own body and other bodies, while connecting to the physical environment in relation to gravity.

​​A ‘jam’ is a collective improvisation of creative movement, voice or musical instruments. All levels of experience are welcome. An open space to improvise, using tools built up in classes, workshops or our individual practices. They are places to play, connect, express ourselves and explore through movement. People may dance by themselves, in duet, in larger groups, or simply observe.

​Space info

​Guidelines

• ​Take care of yourself and others: only engage in what you wish to do and take a step back when something does not feel right. Likewise, pay attention to the comfort of others in the space and refrain from imposing any specific movement.

• ​​Keep safety in mind: do not grab limbs or jump/lift near walls or lying bystanders, close our eyes only if far away from people moving more rapidly or dynamically.

• ​Witness and preserve quietness: people are welcome to simply observe the class or jam, sit on the side, and relax. However, we ask participants to refrain from loud and prolonged chats and move to adjacent rooms for more involved verbal conversations.

​​More info: jam guidelines and newcomers tips by the London CI@Goldsmith community here.

​Music and art

​We like to bring along musical instruments and improvise rhythms and tunes that go along with the dancing, by paying attention and relating to the movements happening in the space. We often bring along arts supplies and form an “art corner” to sketch out what we witness in the space or feel in the moment.

​Venue information

​The Work Room studio located within Tramway is on the first floor but fully accessible through an elevator and equipped with accessible toilets and wetrooms, a kitchen with microwave, kettle, fridge and crockery, and a green room with a changing bench.

​Disclaimer

​Participants assume all risks involved in participating in a session with The Glasgow Jam, and release The Glasgow Jam from any liability for their safety. In a jam, participants are responsible for themselves at all times. Children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult.

​To stay in touch, join The Glasgow Jam Facebook Group