Asheville Jam

Thank you for taking a moment to read through these guidelines. We crafted this document out of our desire to build a dance community based in mutual respect, care, and consent. Your feedback matters and is welcome!

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Why Community Guidelines?

Coming to a CI jam for the first time can be liberating. You have permission to play, dance, explore, touch, and be touched. This can be a big shift from how we are expected to move and interact in our daily lives and can sometimes feel overwhelming - just as we long to feel freedom and connection with others, we also need healthy boundaries to feel safe. The following guidelines help create a container for the expectations we have of each other at our jams. If these guidelines are not honored Asheville Jam organizers may ask an individual to leave or not attend future events.

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Why we’re here

Contact Improvisation is a dance form. It is a rich and diverse practice of improvisation, exploration and movement that can be an avenue to many things ranging from performance to personal growth.

The CI space is not:

• A space for dating or meeting new romantic or sexual partners (though this may happen outside the jam container)

• A space for general socializing and conversation (though this may happen before or after or outside of the jam)

• A place where the goal is meeting our needs for physical intimacy (touch, cuddling, etc)

• A place to seek and pursue sexual connection - this type of behavior contributes to an unsafe jam culture and is not acceptable

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Other Guidelines

• Come to the jam clean and wearing appropriate clothing - natural fiber clothing that covers your legs and shoulders is recommended for contact improvisation.

• Refrain from sexual touch - be conscious of sensitive areas both in your own body and your partner's

• Be a responsible dancer: don’t grab, confine, or restrict another dancers’ movements. Go to class to learn techniques for dancing safely, especially when weight sharing.

• Dancers may start and end dances at any time for a wide variety of reasons. Don’t take it personally (unless you get direct feedback about the dance indicating you should.)

• The jam is a screen-free space. Please silence your phones and take calls, texts, etc outside.

• Avoid wearing strong or chemical scents to keep the space inclusive for those with chemical sensitivities.

• Take conversations (that aren’t in-the-moment and about-the-dancing) outside.

• Well-tended youngsters who can safely and respectfully engage in the space – including the opening and closing circles – are welcome.

• We love our furry friends, but no pets allowed at the jam.