CI is a physical and relational movement research practice. Jams are where people practice CI and are held as platonic, open/unstructured spaces. Sexual feelings may arise because we are engaging our bodies and minds sensually. The common conditioning is to associate sensuality, especially touch, with sex. All the jam spaces in PDX require that you refrain from engaging sexually on the dance floor. If someone makes unwanted sexual advances--suggestive comments, lingering touch in erogenous zones, etc.--remove yourself from the dance ASAP and inform a facilitator.
All kinds. You do not have to be a trained dancer or athlete. Absolute beginners are welcome to attend most of the jams.
In the Calendar, please read the description of the event you are interested in.
The Queer jams are specifically for people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+.
The Tuesday night jam at SomaSpace is for dancers with a grounding in CI fundamentals. There is no teaching or tip-giving.
Most of the spaces where jams are held are ADA-accessible.
That depends on you. Some people prefer to be oriented through classes and some prefer to begin with jamming immediately.
There is a Sunday night class (lab/jam) at Lajja. You can check out the Calendar for more details. Occasionally, workshops and series will pop up in other spaces.
The CI jams in PDX typically begin with an opening circle led by a facilitator. In an opening circle, people share information with the group such as names, pronouns, injuries, and access needs--access needs means anything you need to fully participate in the jam. The facilitator will also use this time to orient you on norms and/or guidelines for that particular jam. If you have questions or concerns during the jam, the facilitator is the person you should seek out.
Many, but not all of the PDX jams will next go into an all-levels warmup. The warmup can give you some orientation to CI, but keep in mind that improvisation is an infinite subject.
The warmup will give way to open jamming. Open jamming is unstructured. What is your relationship to structure versus no structure? CI is self-inquiry. You will encounter your judging mind saying things like: "What am I supposed to do?... Am I doing this right?... I don't know what my partner wants." It's normal to experience these thoughts; they are material for your investigation.
Jams are not classes. However, you will find people willing to orient you as a beginner. The facilitator is a great person to go to if you want tips/instruction. Some jam participants may be ok with you asking for tips/instruction. Some participants may also attempt to give you unsolicited advice about how to do CI. Taking up for yourself is highly encouraged. Do you want tips/instruction? If you are receiving unsolicited and unwanted feedback, you are invited to tell them you are uninterested.
The jam will end with a closing circle. During the closing circle those who are called to typically share their experience, investigation, or insight from the jam.
A jam can be a risky environment, and injury is a possibility. Additionally, you may experience overwhelm, overstimulation, disorientation, and/or nausea. One operative of CI is to take care of yourself and take care of the others, including the co-created space. This does not mean you are alone and have to fend for yourself. CI is a relational practice. We practice with one another, in community. The facilitators are people you can always bring questions and concerns to. You are also encouraged to have verbal check-ins with your dance partners. In CI, we practice curiosity together. The etymology of curious is from the Latin word cura, which means "to care."
Consent in Latin is con-sentire, meaning "feeling or sensing together." To feel and sense together requires slowing down to create space for awareness. Nita Little says, "Move at the speed of your attention." This does not necessarily mean fast or slow. Slowing down is decreasing one or more variables to make room for an increase in awareness. To feel/sense together, we have to slow down and do less. Nancy Stark Smith said, "Tension masks sensation." Where is your tension? What are you holding on to? Can you do less?
Care and awareness are fundamental to CI. They require tracking internal and external activities. Ways to do that include:
Checking in with yourself. CI is a practice of yeses and noes. "Do I want touch right now?... Do I like this?... Do I want to be done with this dance?" In CI, you are always checking in with yourself.
Checking in with others. Opening and closing circles are places to inform the group about your physical and emotional states. Verbal check-ins before, during, and after dances are a direct way to communicate about your experience and receive info about your partner's experience. When you don't know, use your voice to ask.
Using your voice is always an option. Vocalize your thought bubbles to your dance partner: "Are you ok with my full weight?... This amount of weight is not comfortable!... I love full weight!" Our experience is fluid, changing, and dynamic--be careful of assumptions and expectations. If you are unsure, checking in verbally with your partner is the most direct route.
Entering and exiting dances at will. You can always say no to a dance. You might choose not to physically touch a single person at the jam, and that's perfectly fine! It's also common practice to leave a dance at any time and not give your partner reasons. You are highly encouraged to investigate yeses and noes. Using your voice is the most direct way to enter/exit dances.
Dancing with the body you have. Knowing the limits of your skills.
Redirecting. You have a say in the dance! Redirecting can be done verbally, as described above, and non-verbally. Non-verbal redirection is using your body to change, move, or re-route your partner's body; put your partner where you want them.
Adjusting for comfort. Here's a great score (focus, prompt, or improvisation game) from Carolyn Stuart: "Constantly adjust for comfort and amusement." If you are uncomfortable and don't want to be, adjust what you are doing. If you sense your partner is uncomfortable, adjust what you are doing--which could mean checking in verbally!
Having your landing gear free and available to use. This refers to your hands and feet. Always know where the floor is.
Not matching your partner. There are no lead/follow roles. You are not required to match your partner. If they are moving fast, you can move slowly. If they are standing, you can be lying down. You are taking care of yourself. You have autonomy.
Tracking what's going on in the room. Are people vertical? Horizontal? Moving fast? Slow? How much space is available? Are there people nearby? We are co-creating space. We are "in it" with each other at all times. We are accountable to the whole. What we do reverberates and is felt throughout the space.
Witnessing and soloing are essential practices within CI. Witnessing means observing the other dancers and the dances happening in the space. Soloing is dancing alone; investigating yourself/your solo dance.
Changing your participation anytime you don't like what is going on. You always have this option. No one can make you do anything. You have autonomy. This could mean slowing down, leaving a dance, changing the point of contact, etc. Always checking in with yourself, what's a yes and what's a no?
It's normal to process and organize your experience after the fact. If you have questions or concerns, please bring them to the facilitators, even if they relate to a previous experience.
People typically wear clothing that is non-restrictive and comfortable to move in (sweatpants, t-shirts, athletic wear, etc). Layers are recommended in the cooler months. Some choose to wear kneepads. Street shoes are not permitted on any of the dance floors; people go barefoot or wear socks.
I've found that cotton clothing is an all-around great choice for CI. Mostly cotton blends with one other material can also be ok. Any synthetic blends or blends with three or more materials tend to pill quickly, especially because we are rolling and sliding the point of contact. I highly recommend cotton pajama pants if you can find them--thank you, Carolyn Stuart!
Avoid wearing clothing with buttons, zippers, buckles, as well as jewelry. CI is danced in close contact and metal objects can injure your dance partners.
It is considerate of others to avoid wearing strong scents, such as perfumes, essential oils, and scented laundry soaps/fabric softeners. Some people will not dance with folks who wear scented anything. On a similar note, regular bathing and clothes laundering is appreciated.
It's variable. Some PDX jams are small with about 6-12 people on average. The larger ones in PDX are about 25-35 people on average. Jams with live improvised music are popular.
Jams are traditionally held without music. However, some PDX CI spaces regularly have live musicians who improvise along with the dancers. Other spaces may play recorded music, have some percussion available for anyone to use, or invite you to bring instruments.