The dance is built in between the bodies
The contemporary partner work is a discipline which parts from the contemporary dance, mainly from Contact Improvisation, Release, Flying Low and the elements of acrobatics thought for the development of physical relations in duets, trios or group work.
To tell the difference between the classical partner work, our proposal aims to build the complementary relationship between two or more sensitive bodies and underlines the precise awareness of the work of physical structure of each student.
Taking into account the differences of the gender and diverse corporal characteristics, necessary tools will be applied for different bodies so that for example a female student could lift a male student using the technical idea of shared axes avoiding the risk of unnecessary wounds at the same time opening a Wide range of new possibilities to encourage the physical connections.
Our proposal aims to build an intensive connection where the dynamic roles are balanced and both bodies are working equally in the constant expansion to perform one form.
Structure of the class
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Recognition of the partner’s body structure through the own bone an muscular structure:
Different exercises in couples will be introduced, mainly based on contact work.
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Physical training.
Individual. This part of the class offers the personal training to develop the skills and awareness of muscular resistance and the bone structure as an operating system to work the body in constant expansion.
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Exercises in couples, trios until group work.
At this point the work is directed towards the development of movements structures and special tasks to introduce the different possibilities of Partner Work. These structures can be related to different genders of pair dances as a tango dance for example, mechanisms of the contact improvisation, pair acrobatics or contemporary dance techniques.
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Chorographical sequences:
Chorographical movement sequence based on the ideas of the previously executed exercises will be provided by professors, learned and performed by students.
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Chorographical sequences (advanced level)
Finally we can face the creative part of the class where students will be asked to create own material always using the main idea of the partner work (all movements, forms and transitions are created and performed between two or more bodies)
Origins of the connexions or basic concepts of the partner work
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To remain in the gravity:
The body in order to stay in upright position has to be organized using the knowledge of the muscular and bone structure in a way so that the gravity force doesn’t through it towards the floor.
Any support area of the body connected with a floor (at this stage) should be constantly pushing the floor and against the gravity. Later on we apply the same idea working with a partner pushing away from the support area at the same time directing the push and ending it in the floor.
That’s why we stress the idea of constant push from the floor.
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Touch.
The contact area between two ore more bodies that doesn’t involve force either weight. The emitter (person who initiates or proposes the movement) is the one who acts avoiding affecting kinetically the recipient (person who receives the proposal of emitter). The possible changes in the duo are those of perception: recognition of the periphery, information about the size, volume, temperature, and distance.
Action possibilities with a touch:
Rolling and sliding
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Grab.
The fingers and fingertips perform the muscular action of the traction.
Action possibilities with the grab:
Anchoring
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Support
The contact area used to give the whole or the part of the weight to the recipient’s body. This kina of connection between bodies involves the whole muscular and bone structure of participants.
Action possibilities with the support:
Rolling, sliding and anchoring. (In a case of rolling and sliding the support area will be changed.
5. Fitting in
Two areas of opposite angles embedded concavo –convex, concavo-concavo but never convex-convex. Establishing largest contact area will facilitate the weigh support. Trying to avoid free sauces.
Action possibilities with the fitting in
Anchoring
The combination of the basic elements will provide the possibility to create the physical dynamic connection between two or more bodies:
Sharing central axes with a partner on the leaning or hanging positions, supporting or giving the whole or the part of the body weight of the partner.