Women in Motion: Experiences with Contact & Movement Improvisation

Abstract

This research uses a grounded theory approach to examine women’s experiences in contact and movement improvisation communities. Eight women ages 26 to 54 were interviewed regarding their initial experiences with contact improvisation, their current experiences, and their motivations for participation. The four main themes from these interviews are Motivation, Physiology and Psychology, Safety, and Community and Society. Based on the responses it seems that contact and movement improvisation provides a space for participants that may temporarily lessen the pressures they feel from patriarchal society. However, contact and movement improvisation does not exist in a vacuum and societal norms still permeate these communities.