Where Contact Improvisation Meets Dance/Movement Therapy: An Embodied Group Artistic Inquiry

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore potential for integrating elements of contact improvisation (CI) into the practice of dance/movement therapy (DMT). This study aimed to determine the critical considerations for introducing an improvisational practice involving the use of touch to clients in a safe and therapeutic manner. The primary research question was: How can CI be used within the practice of DMT? The primary investigator collaborated with three dance/movement therapists who also practice CI to explore the research question through an embodied group artistic inquiry. Co-researchers met three times for three hours each in a private dance studio space. Data were collected and analyzed through arts-based methods, including structured improvisations, visual art, and dialogue which were documented through a short film. The results illuminated the many layers of psychological and emotional content that CI can provoke, suggesting that CI must be broken down into small, manageable experiences specific to the clients’ needs, setting and treatment goals. Two themes emerged that illuminate the purpose of CI in DMT, which are holism and making contact. The study aims to spark further conversation about the ways in which the exploration of contact (both physical and emotional) can be transformational for DMT clients and facilitators.