History of the jam

Michal Lahav lovingly created this annual community highlight in 2008 in collaboration with our wonderful host Catiya Gainor. Over the course of 11 years, Michal built an amazing event and strong relationships with the local community, including our dance space Oddfellows Hall, local musicians, local dancers, and more. 

After a break from jamming during pandemic times, Constanze Villines and Julius Rodriguez started organizing the Jam on Orcas Island (JOI) in 2023.

The jam's mission, as written by its creator Michal, expresses the commitments and values we all practice during the days of JOI:

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The Orcas Island Jam’s mission is to foster a Contact Improv community event that provides a space for open improvisation (jams), labs, and classes. 

The Orcas Jam provides work-study positions and sliding scale options for those unable to afford full payment of the registration fees.  

The Jam respects and honors the property of Catiya and Jan Gainor and works to uphold their property rules with utmost respect, leaving the land in the same condition as it was found, or better.

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