Please read our guidelines to understand how this relates to our society, community, social space, and the practice of Contact Improvisation.

Introduction: Coming to a CI jam for the first time can be liberating. You have permission to play, dance, touch, and be touched. This is [can be] a big shift from how most of us are expected to act, most of the time. Not only that, we move and interact in ways we might not in a normal social context. Even though we’re invited to challenge, test, and adjust our edges of comfort, pushing those edges of comfort with how we interact with others too much at once can be overwhelming. We need healthy boundaries with how we interact with others and how they interact with us just as much as we need freedom and the ability to connect. The following guidelines help set context and make clear the types of boundaries we hold with and 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 jams or other events.

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 from performance to personal growth.

This space is not:

  • A space for dating, meeting new romantic or sexual partners (though this may happen beyond this space)
  • A space for general socializing and conversation (though this may happen before/after/outside)
  • A place were the primary goal is meeting needs for physical intimacy (eg. touch, cuddling, etc. – although touch is a part of CI)
  • Seeking and pursuing sexual connection on the dance floor is not acceptable

Other Guidelines

Wear appropriate clothing.
No sexual touch.
Be a responsible dancer: Don’t restrict other dancers’ movements. Learn techniques to dance 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 feedback about the dance which indicates you should take something into account.
The jam is a screen-free space, take your phones outside.
Take conversations that aren’t about the dance outside.
Well-tended youngsters, who can safely and respectfully engage in the space – including the opening and closing circles – are welcome.
No Pets.

An additional note of acknowledgment

Asheville Jam would like to acknowledge and appreciate the huge contribution that Kathleen Rea, founder of REAson d’etre Dance has made to the Contact Improvisation community (including through the contactimprovconsentculture.com blog). We encourage supporting Kathleen’s dance company and/or the Contact Improve Consent Culture Blog through a donation.