Have you even been in an "Underscore Jam"?
An Underscore comprises over 20 "phases", each represented by a unique glyph, guiding participants through a spectrum of dynamic states—from introspective, quiet moments to high-energy, interactive exchanges. This structure encourages dancers to explore various aspects of movement, awareness, and connection. Not everything phase needs to happen, but hearing them, or seeing them depicted helps greatly to become more aware of them.
So far when engaging in Underscore jams I have found that my quality of attention is blissfully continuous. Its one big wave of presence from beginning to end. In 'regular' jam encounters and experiences are more like fleeting sentences. Sometimes with interpunction, other times each moment a new chapter.
The themes of presence and attention in a jam are of interest to me, and I find it worthwhile to explore them in order to keep CI jamming fresh and joyful. Jamming as life, with a continual commitment to come back and engage with what is present.
CI and Meditation: Mindfulness in Motion
CI shares common ground with meditation, focusing on present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation. Personally I find that my internal dialogue is dancing along most of the time, with questions like, "Does this work?", " Do I like this?", "Wait what?", or "Oh cool! Again! Ahh missed the moment.."
By viewing Jamming as meditation I feel I am more prone to acknowledge my thoughts, and realise there is much more to perceive. Like gravity, momentum, other people, skin, connection and many other sensorial qualities. Realising that my internal dialogue is also part of the dance, it allows me to become more attuned to my internal state and the evolving dynamics of the jam space and others. Recognizing my thoughts and perhaps getting to know my own "known or unknown scores"—the preconceived notions or spontaneous impulses guiding movement—it opens the space for more authentic presence and interactions.
Undoing the Need to "Do"
If I'm honest, I find there’s often an urge in dance—and in life—to act, to initiate, to make something happen. But do I always need to? What happens if I simply let movement emerge, rather than forcing it? Sometimes, the richest dances come from allowing stillness, from tuning in rather than reaching out. "Being" can be just as powerful as "doing."
Then, how to do the undoing, or undo the doing? Any thoughts? :-)
Experimentation and Curiosity
Experimentation and curiosity are at the heart of CI. Martin Keogh speaks about "leaning into what we don’t know," embracing uncertainty rather than shying away from it. In a jam, we can explore without a set goal—testing weight, balance, speed, and stillness. What happens if we wait? If we don’t move at all? If we move in a way we’ve never tried before? CI invites us to be both scientist and artist, constantly discovering new ways to relate to ourselves and others.
Mindset and Motivation
Movement doesn’t always need an external push. Sometimes it arises from within—a breath, a shift in attention, a shared moment of stillness. Other times, it’s sparked by others energy or the sensation of weight and resistance. But what if nothing moves us? Can we stay present even in stillness, alone or with another? These moments of pause are just as much a part of the dance as the more obvious movements.
Music in CI
Music in CI is a choice. Some jams embrace silence, allowing dancers to fully attune to each other’s breath and micro-movements. Others bring in live musicians or carefully chosen tracks to influence the flow. The key is awareness—music should support, not dictate. What does the soundscape bring to the dance? Does it invite softness, wildness, stillness? Or does it distract?
Setting Intentions for the Space
Before entering a CI jam, it helps me to pause and ask: What’s my intention? Am I here to enjoy movement? To connect? To surprise myself? Some things I have tried or want to try:
- To have beautiful, fluid dances
- To experience warmth and human connection
- To be amazed at what my body can do
- To try something new in dialogue with another
- To resist the obvious, to play with discomfort (being so tall I'm easy to lift, I often don't play along...)
- To challenge myself—not just physically, but mentally
- To stay engaged, even when I feel lost or unsure
- To fully accept other's choices, without needing to change them
Contact Improvisation is a practice of presence, curiosity, and trust—both in ourselves and in the dance that unfolds. The more we let go of the need to "do," the more space we create for discovery.
We are dancing artists exploring science and creating art :-)
