Steve Paxton influences

Steve Paxton started off as a gymnast and is the creator of contact improvisation.  Paxton was a member of the Josè Limón in 1960 and danced for Merce Cunningham as well in 1961.  He became an avant-garde dance collective in Judson Dance Theater.  Paxton tries to break the wall between dancers and non-dancers.  Paxton questioned the elements of dance, and pushed limits.  He was inspired to look at the human spine in ways that no one else did.  He has a whole movement exploration on the spine and how it can be used in a meditative way while dancing.  The human body was an inspiration in itself for Paxton.  I believe that a lot of movement would seem irrelevant if it wasn't for Paxton.  Paxton is also known as the creator of contact improvisation, contact improvisation is an ever evolving form of movement done with more than one person.  Improvising with this person in a space where you come into contact with other bodies to find a certain connection.  These bodies are in a physical connection with each other that can create a type of communication between the two bodies.  Contact Improvisation is an exploration not only with other bodies but with other elements as well, like gravity and momentum.  The spontaneity of contact improv also creates an alertness between dancers, which can build a tremendous amount of trust.  Trust is one of the most important aspects of contact improvisation, this keeps the bodies movement from becoming anything but organic looking.

 "Contact Improvisation is an open-ended exploration of the kinaesthetic possibilities of bodies moving through contact. Sometimes wild and athletic, sometimes quiet and meditative, it is a form open to all bodies and enquiring minds."

-Ray Chung workshop announcement, London 2009

(http://www.contactquarterly.com/contact-improvisation/about/cq_ciAbout.php)

-Here is a video of what some contact improvisation looks like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcrbIdY3HZc

"Each body has a center of gravity of its own, but when they come together there is one center of gravity that they share." -Youtube video "Interkenected"

-Here is a video of what some of Paxton's work on the spine looks like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CntWmA1YTw

-Amelia Morris