Contact Improvisation Weekend with Martin Hughes - Castlemaine

Join us for a weekend of Contact Improvisation with Martin Hughes, a dancer, teacher and long-time CI practitioner whose exploration of the form began in New York in the late 1980s, where he was taught by Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Daniel Lepkoff, Nita Little, Karen Nelson, KJ Holmes, and Nina Martin. (Read more about Martin below)

Across the weekend, we’ll investigate some of the fundamental ingredients of CI — weight, gravity, momentum, rolling, falling, trust and flow — through physical practice, improvisation, discussion and dancing together.

The weekend is open to all levels of CI experience and physical ability. Whether you are relatively new to Contact Improvisation or have been dancing for many years, there will be space to investigate, question, practise and discover.

This is also a fabulous opportunity to learn Martin's Rolling Kata.

We encourage you to experience CI in it's long form by committing to the whole weekend, but there are opportunities to choose individual sessions.

Learning with Martin Hughes is a very special opportunity for our region. Not to be missed!

Waiting and Weighting, Trusting and Flowing / Sat morning / Guildford

Steve Paxton, considered the founder of Contact Improvisation (CI), classically described CI as a dance "based on the communication between two moving bodies that are in physical contact and their combined relationship to the physical laws that govern their motion—gravity, momentum, inertia"

Typically, we experience gravity, momentum, and inertia as weight: our weight in relation to the things that support it–the floor, a chair, our internal structure, and other people. We also experience weight as something we are supporting.

Another element of this experience is time (or timing). In stillness, we wonder: how long to wait? In movement, we wonder: how fast to go?

We also experience our weight in "falling"–being off-centre, allowing our balance to give way to our weight. Catching and releasing your balance. Finding ways into and out of the floor and/or another person.

Sounds all very complicated and, perhaps, a little scary, but we will use simple (not necessarily easy) physical practices and tools that underpin all of this, helping us to find or clarify where Trust and Flow exist.

For those who are just beginning to explore CI, this class will provide a rich place to start. For those with more experience, there will be plenty to chew on.

Open to all levels of experience and physical ability.

You will be encouraged to always work with the body you have.

Please come dressed in loose fitting clothing (long sleeve shirts and long pants preferred).

Workshop: Sat 31 Oct - 10:00am - 1:00pm / Guildford Hall

The Rolling Kata / Sat & Sun afternoon / Guildford & Castlemaine

Kata" (noun) – a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe a detailed, choreographed sequence of movements practiced to perfect technique and build muscle memory.

“The Rolling Kata” is a sequence of rolls that Martin gathered during his CI studies in the US. It started with workshops with Steve Paxton, KJ Holmes, Karen Nelson and Nina Martin, who clearly thought rolling was serious business. Then it got really interesting with State of Flux who helped him unpack the somatic importance of each roll as it applies to Contact Improvisation. It was also Flux that gave this sequence its name (it was a bit of a joke at the time).

Each set of rolls provides specific tools for CI. They develop specific skills that help coordinate the levers, pulleys, and weights of the body into and out of the floor and other partners.

You must attend both of the Rolling Kata sessions. To attend Part 2, you must have completed Part 1.

Session 1 - Sat 31 Oct: 2:00pm - 4:00pm / Guildford Hall

Session 2 - Sun 1 Nov 10:15am - 12:15pm / Castlemaine Circus

Please note venue change between days.

Let’s Talk About Teaching CI / Sat evening / Castlemaine

We'll discuss and debate what are the essential elements of CI and the order these elements need to be taught in. "What would you teach first?"

This is an open forum that Martin will moderate and provide structure for. It is open to all teachers of CI, from those who have taught 100s of hours to those interested in starting.

Experience in CI is a prerequisite for this session.

Sat 31 Oct: approximately 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Guildford Hall (32 Fryers St, Guildford)

Please note: Limited spaces for this workshop.

Underscore / Sun afternoon / Castlemaine Circus

The Underscore is a long-form score developed by Nancy Stark Smith, one of the founders of Contact Improvisation. Dancers around the world have practised it since the early 1990s.

We start with arriving, then sensitising to gravity and support on our own, before expanding into the space and meeting others. There is no choreography and no right way to move, only an invitation is to follow what you notice and let the dance unfold.

Most of the dance happens in silence, allowing us to listen through the body and to sense the shifting relationships between ourselves, our partners and the wider group. Slowly we return to stillness and gather in a closing circle to share and reflect.

Everyone arrives together and leaves together and allowing the dance to evolve as a focussed practice.

If you’re new to the Underscore, we’ll start with a talk-through of the glyphs, Nancy’s drawings of each phase, which give the Underscore its shape.

It’s a beautiful practice and well worth experiencing if you’ve never been.

Sun 1 Nov: 1:30pm - 4:30pm / Castlemaine Circus

Martin trained as a contemporary dancer and worked with dance, theatre, and street theatre companies in Australia and overseas. He started learning CI in New York in the late 1980s where he was taught by Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Daniel Lepkoff, Nita Little, Karen Nelson, KJ Holmes, and Nina Martin.

Back in Melbourne (Naarm) he co-founded the CI teaching and performing group State of Flux who started the Melbourne CI Jam (still going after 30 years) and ran the first residential jams in Australia. He also founded Cecil Street Studio, a centre for improvisation in Melbourne for 21 years and has co-led several Australian Contact Improvisation Convergences.

Martin taught dance at the Victorian College of the Arts for roughly 20 years and has taught CI throughout Australia and internationally, in many different contexts.

For nearly 40 years, CI for Martin has been a source of intriguing investigation, excitement, and fun! He enjoys nothing more than sharing that fun and excitement and digging into that interest with others.

Food:

BYO lunch & snacks.

Guildford Hall, our Saturday venue is in a small town 10 minutes outside of Castlemaine. There are no places to purchase food in Guildford, but there are plenty of beautiful places to have a picnic lunch together. Bring something for yourself, or something to share and a rug to sit on :)

Getting there:

If you are coming to Castlemaine by train and need a lift to Guildford, let me know and I'll add you to a car-pooling WhatsApp group. We'll get you out there one way or another!

Accomodation:

There are many accomodation options in Castlemaine.

One of our local dancers has accommodation available at her beautiful property just outside Castlemaine. There are both rooms and camping options. And it's a lovely example of Permaculture in action if you happen to be a permie nerd.

Details here: https://events.humanitix.com/camping-accommodation-open-field-coliving-castlemaine-cup-weekend

I may be able to organise a bed, couch or camping space with one of our local dancers, so reach out and I'll see what we can arrange. (No guarantees)

The Castlemaine CI Collective acknowledges that this class will be held on unceded Djaara country.

We have kept the pricing as low as possible to keep this event affordable and to cover costs.

If these prices and options are unattainable for you, we do not want you to miss out. Please send me a message and I'll see what we can offer.

If you are someone who can afford a little more to help us cover those who can't afford the full amount, please consider adding a donation amount to your ticket.

Our guidelines are shared agreements. They exist so everyone can explore, learn, and play with confidence in a safe environment. 

Inclusivity & Country

Castlemaine CI welcomes all bodies, abilities, genders, cultures and levels of experience. We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we dance on, and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. 

How We Relate: Consent, Care & Communication

Attuned Play - Playfulness and depth arise when everyone feels safe and supported

• We listen deeply — verbally and non‑verbally.

• We balance our own expression with awareness of others.

• We stay responsive to changing needs, boundaries and comfort levels.

Consent is Dynamic

• Anyone can say “no” or stop a dance at any time - a clear boundary is welcome.

• Consent on the dance floor does not imply consent off the dance floor.

• Sexualised behaviour is not appropriate nor tolerated.

Self‑Responsibility

• Each dancer manages their own physical and emotional boundaries and safety.

• Clear communication — verbal or non‑verbal — is part of the dance.

• You can leave or transform a dance at any moment.

Movement Awareness

• Avoid grabbing, restricting movement or forcing lifts.

• Support safe landings — Allow dancers to organise their own “landing gear.”

• Keep stationary encounters (parking) off to the side, being mindful of dynamic movements on the dance floor.

Focused Space

• Keep verbal communication to a minimum. 

• Witnessing, warming up or resting happens at the edges of the room.

Clothing, Hygiene & Personal Care

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that cover shoulders and legs for sliding, rolling and safe partnering.

• Avoid zippers, big buttons, belts, buckles and jewellery — they scratch and catch

• Remove jewellery and loose items such as neck scarves.

• Keep a change of dry clothes handy — no one loves wet and musty clothes.

• Maintain good personal hygiene. 

• Avoid chemical perfumes and strong scents.

• Clean your feet before entering the floor.

• Cover cuts with band‑aids.

• Keep finger and toe nails clipped short to avoid scratching.

• Stay home if unwell.

• Space & Punctuality

• Be punctual for classes out of respect for teachers and fellow dancers.

• No shoes in the gym or studio.  Shoes should be left in the foyer area.

• No food in the Circus gym or Circus studio. Drinks may be kept to the outer edge of the dance floor on the hard floor, away from the mats.  Food may be consumed in the foyer area.

• No late entry or early exit to Underscores or other closed containers.

Photography, Phones & Recording

• No filming or photography unless discussed and approved with organisers first. Permission must be obtained from any persons photographed before taking and before sharing.

• Be mindful: cameras in the space affect people and the dances.
  

Safety, Support & Conflict Resolution

If you feel unsafe:

• Pause the dance and communicate with your partner.

• If unresolved, speak to the facilitator/s.

• Contact email is castlemaineci@gmail.com
  

Safety Policy

• Organisers may refuse entry or remove anyone who compromises safety. This includes physical or emotional safety. 

• The decision to refuse entry, or to remove a participant is not open for negotiation. Police will be called if there is any aggressive, abusive or inappropriate sexual behaviour.