Last February 14th, the Contact Improvisation community got together to talk about safety issues. One of the recommendations that emerged from these discussions was the importance of welcoming newcomers.
So, we acted on it.
The security committee is calling upon you, Sunday dancers and jammers.
The project we are launching aims at forming a group of people that will facilitate the welcoming of newcomers. The members of this group will be identified as facilitators. We hope to recruit a fairly large number of people so running it would be flexible for the members and on a voluntary basis.
The tasks: Greet, discuss with newcomers their CI experience, communicate the rituals of the Sunday JAM – the bell, the closing circle, etc. - , give a copy of the code of conduct, sign the discharge of responsibility form…
The security committee has prepared a guide to assist with this task : a lsting tasks is attached below (Welcoming committee guide).
To become a facilitator, it is necessary to read this guide and adhere to the role and the tasks defined in it.Come and see us if you would like more information, it’s almost for sure that one of us will be at the JAM…
Looking forward to collaborating with you!
The security committee
Danielle Beaudet, Manon Beaudoin, Amanda Franz, John Giffen, Guillaume Tétreau, Allison Ulan.
At our last general assembly of 2009, we decided that an issue of high priority for our community is developing some strategies around safety during the jam. The board is in the process of updating our guidelines and protocol regarding these issues, and would like to invite the community to give us your input. With this in mind, we are hosting a talking circle to give each of you the opportunity to express your feelings and suggestions around safety and boundaries, both physical and sexual. We would like to raise awareness around these areas of potential risk, to shape current, effective guidelines, and disseminate them in a way that keeps our dance community safe, while continuing to be inviting and all-inclusive. We are including for your review the current guidelines, a cartoon that expresses them (Contact Quackerly volume 21 number 1 année 96), as well as an informative and inspiring article written by Martin Keogh on 101 ways to say ’No’ in Contact Improv.
Our talking circle was extremely well attended. This is obviously a very important issue to our Contact Improv community, as there were over 50 people in total, in equal numbers of men and women. Each individual took the opportunity to write and speak about their concerns around safety issues and sexual boundaries. The use of the ’talking pine cone’ for the women, and ’talking flute’ for the men allowed everyone to air their experiences, ideas and solutions, with the full attention of those present. The prevailing feeling following the circle is that we are a community who cares deeply about each other, and, given the chance, is very willing and able to communicate thoughtfully. The circle gave each of us the opportunity to reflect on what we can do individually, and together, to keep ourselves, our partners. and our community safe and secure while we practice this wonderful form that brings us together. A committee was created for implementation of the solutions that were proposed during the circle. We’d be pleased to invite a few more people onto the committee, for maximum effectiveness.
In preparation for the talking circle, participants were invited to reflect on these four questions.
1. What can I personally do to keep myself feeling safe in contact dance?
2. What can I do to respect the other dancers’ boundaries, and not hurt other people both physically and psychologically?
3. Is there a place for sexuality in Contact Dance? How does this issue affect me?
4. What can we do as a community to create a safe environment for our members?
For more food for thought on these issues, it is highly recommended you read the article by Martin Keogh "101 Ways to Say No to Contact Improvisation: Boundaries and Trust" ( available on the ACI website). here is an excerpt :
In Contact Improvisation there is a basic principle that each person takes responsibility for him- or herself. I am the only person who can be inside my body, so I need to keep a part of me awake—the part that can sense and communicate (physically or verbally) my needs, limits, and desires. I need to keep myself safe and make sure I don’t hurt others
