Partner dancing… there’s a lot to it!
I knew that already… Yet, after talking to some contact improv folks, I know it in a new, deeper way. If they had a contract, it would be maybe a page long: take care of yourself, try to stay present and listen to your partner, now go have fun!
Our contract is much more serious…
1. We agree that I will follow and you will lead, anywhere from 0-100 to 49-51. As a follower, I will not mutiny. As a leader, I will take charge and responsibility, meaning if something goes wrong, it’s on me.
2. We agree that there’s music and, of all the billions of ways to move our bodies, we will only choose those which express that music.
3. We agree that we will almost always dance standing, and have a steady “embrace” (shudder, “frame”). It’s important that this embrace stay relatively constant, once again sacrificing (some) creativity so we can build a safe container for connection.
There’s more. All of these are implied, but non-trivial. I would take them for granted until talking to folks from a different paradigm, who would say things like, “No, in our world leading totally goes from 100-0 to 0-110!”