The Underscore is a long-form dance improvisation structure developed by Nancy Stark Smith. It has been evolving since 1990 and is practiced all over the globe.

The Underscore is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation into a broader arena of improvisational dance practice; for developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable.

The practice—usually 3 to 4 hours in length—progresses through a broad range of dynamic states, including long periods of very small, private, and quiet internal activity and other times of higher energy and interactive dancing.

There are 20+ phases of the score—each with a name and a graphic symbol (glyph)—which create a general map for the dancers. Within that frame, dancers are free to create their own movements, dynamics, and relationships—with themselves, each other, the group, the music, and the environment.

The phase called Assembly (previously named “Pow-Wow” in Nancy’s book, Caught Falling) is a focused gathering of the Underscore players—a coming together to meet, check in, sow seeds for practice in the early part of the score.

To participate in an Underscore, one should have some experience of Contact Improvisation and attend a talk-through of the Underscore, which often takes about an hour. Nancy conceived of talk-throughs being done in-person, because there is an embodied transmission through the oral tradition. The Underscore is not led with verbal cues; the idea is that people “know” it already and are coming together to share the practice. Participants come on time and stay for the duration of the event.

For this event we will practice for just 2 hours. Please arrive on time and stay for the duration of the event.

Bring a water bottle, layers of comfortable clothing to move and rest in, knee pads if you use them, a journal and pen if you wish.

This is a community offering whereby Koha/Donations are welcome.

Registration is essential by clicking the Ticket link.

The Underscore - a contact improvisation jam

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