Steve Paxton came up with the idea of contact improvisation and ran with it. It is interesting to me because he was so bold with this new way of moving; it was inventive and something no one has done before. I have always been afraid to work using contact improvisation but studying Paxton and his work has helped me to understand that there is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed. It is improvisation. If something doesn't work then move on and try something new. Watching contact improvisation, however, is a different story. It is so interesting to see the shapes that two or more bodies can form and the movement that comes from it; it is like watching a story of movement unfold right in front of you.
Today, there are so many improv jams that take place all over the world, each one holding a different experience waiting to be shared. I know that I have come to appreciate the world of contact improvisation and the brilliance of Steve Paxton.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
WHY
Steve Paxton found his way into the contact improvisation world by starting a two week study that involved 17 students and colleagues when he became interested in what other movements are considered dancer and how dances are made. He wanted to explore the communication between two or more bodies that are in physical contact and their relationship to the physical laws such as gravity, momentum, and inertia. He helped form Grand Union, and improvisational group which included both Trisha Brown and Yvonne Rainer, and it was with this group he came up with the idea of contact improvisation. He brought to the stage a whole new way to explore two or more bodies dancing together as a unit with one single mind. His goals were to have these dancers move as one whole and just explore each others physical beings, which is exactly what contact improvisation is about. With this new concept in dance, it was this that made Steve Paxton who he is today and the creator of something that is on a level of its own, in dance.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The World Around Steve
While Mr. Paxton was busy creating a world of contact improvisation, America was going through many changes with the government, art, technology and education. The most important changes, however, were transforming society. The Civil Rights movement forced riots to break out and eventually led to Malcolm X's assassination. John F Kennedy was president until 1963 when he was assassinated and our presence in the Vietnam War increased as Lyndon Baines Johnson succeeded Kennedy.
As for Theater, musicals were booming. Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn were discovered and looked up to as young American idols. During this decade, My Fair Lady and Wait Until Dark were the musicals to see. However, because of our participation in the war, the producers were beginning to see the economic fall.
Beginning in 1969, President Nixon led the people of America but eventually was impeached. The Vietnam War still divided our country and we were still in an economic crises due to the baby boomers.
Dance in the 60's was viewed as 'too risky' for mainstream Americans, however, in the 70's, that view changed with new energy emerging from Broadway. Bob Fosse and John Travolta acclaimed the hearts of Americans. Later, by the end of the 70's, dance became known as the most popular art form throughout America.
As for Theater, musicals were booming. Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn were discovered and looked up to as young American idols. During this decade, My Fair Lady and Wait Until Dark were the musicals to see. However, because of our participation in the war, the producers were beginning to see the economic fall.
Beginning in 1969, President Nixon led the people of America but eventually was impeached. The Vietnam War still divided our country and we were still in an economic crises due to the baby boomers.
Dance in the 60's was viewed as 'too risky' for mainstream Americans, however, in the 70's, that view changed with new energy emerging from Broadway. Bob Fosse and John Travolta acclaimed the hearts of Americans. Later, by the end of the 70's, dance became known as the most popular art form throughout America.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrUeYbUmhQA
This video explains his idea of Magnesium, his first improvisation collaboration.
This video explains his idea of Magnesium, his first improvisation collaboration.
Professional Lineage
March 2, 2010
Collaborations were popular with Steve Paxton because of his need for many performers to fulfill his ideas. In 1983, he got together with Nancy Stark Smith and Lisa Nelson to create Fall After Newton. This documentary portrayed an 11-year contact improvisation that started with Paxton's Magnesium and eleven years later, ended with Contact's 11th Anniversary Concert Series. This video showed the mechanics of slow contact improvisation and and slow movement. "Steve Christiansen used slow motion to make visible dance that was impossible to see with the naked eye." This changed how movement was seen.
Steve Paxton’s main goal was to create a “physical playground” where his students could explore the makings of their own bodies - as well as their relationships with other bodies, objects, and space. He was fascinated by the pedestrian world around him, Paxton developed a non-dance movement vocabulary that includes everyday activities such as sitting, standing, and walking. Paxton sees the human body as a physical machine that expresses both nature and the particular culture in which it operates through movement, therefore, non-dancers can conform to contact improvisation with ease.
Collaborations were popular with Steve Paxton because of his need for many performers to fulfill his ideas. In 1983, he got together with Nancy Stark Smith and Lisa Nelson to create Fall After Newton. This documentary portrayed an 11-year contact improvisation that started with Paxton's Magnesium and eleven years later, ended with Contact's 11th Anniversary Concert Series. This video showed the mechanics of slow contact improvisation and and slow movement. "Steve Christiansen used slow motion to make visible dance that was impossible to see with the naked eye." This changed how movement was seen.
Steve Paxton’s main goal was to create a “physical playground” where his students could explore the makings of their own bodies - as well as their relationships with other bodies, objects, and space. He was fascinated by the pedestrian world around him, Paxton developed a non-dance movement vocabulary that includes everyday activities such as sitting, standing, and walking. Paxton sees the human body as a physical machine that expresses both nature and the particular culture in which it operates through movement, therefore, non-dancers can conform to contact improvisation with ease.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Description/Biography
February 16, 2010
Steve Paxton was born in 1939 in Tuscan, Arizona. During his early years, he spent most of his time training in gymnastics, modern, and classical dance. Then, he performed with the Merce Cunningham Company and eventually became a founder member of Judson Dance Theater. He also was another founding member of the Grand Union Improvisation Collective. In 1972, he started working with a new dance form, contact improvisation, and it eventually became a world sensation.
Steve Paxton was born in 1939 in Tuscan, Arizona. During his early years, he spent most of his time training in gymnastics, modern, and classical dance. Then, he performed with the Merce Cunningham Company and eventually became a founder member of Judson Dance Theater. He also was another founding member of the Grand Union Improvisation Collective. In 1972, he started working with a new dance form, contact improvisation, and it eventually became a world sensation.
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