“Somatics of Contact Improvisation” (Michele Marchesani), it’s out today and available HERE
(check that you are on your country’s website).
The term “somatic” comes from the Greek word “soma,” meaning “body,” and somatic practices focus on the perception and understanding of bodily intelligence. Instead of emphasizing only physical movement, these practices invite individuals to develop a deep awareness of the sensations, emotions, images, and thoughts that arise during the exploration of the body and movement. Specifically, the “Somatic Nervous System” transports all information regarding movements and the expression of the senses from the central nervous system to the whole body, and vice versa.
In discussions about the somatic dimension of Contact Improvisation, we often encounter a certain ambiguity. There tends to be a propensity to incorporate other somatic practices into dance (Somatics into Contact) rather than investigating the intrinsic somatic aspect of CI itself.
Exploring somatics within Contact Improvisation should not involve directly adopting one of these techniques, as Contact Improvisation is already a somatic practice in its own right. Its somatic aspects should be examined from within the practice itself, using its unique perspectives, vision, and language.
The invitation is to return to the cornerstones of proprioception, to the foundations of movement development and sensory growth, and to continue evolving through dance. This approach translates into a path that, although not easy, can stimulate the depth of our being even before influencing our actions.