Movement workshop-lecture "Contact Improvisation" with Aistė Jančiūtė

The slow, ritual culture cycle "Breathing Library" invites you to a movement workshop-lecture "Contact Improvisation" on September 23rd at 6:00 PM at the Gallery (Radastų St. 2, 4th floor), led by artist-educator Aistė Jančiūtė. The number of places for the event is limited, registration is required. What can we say without words? How does our relationship with another change when we communicate not through words, but through movement? Contact improvisation offers to experience a different kind of dialogue – to listen, react, and let the dance be born right there, in the encounter with another person. About the event Contact improvisation is one of the forms of dance and improvisation art where communication takes place through movement and physical contact with another person. Touch and playing with body weight become the main tools here, allowing for the discovery of unexpected movement trajectories and the development of spontaneity and creativity. During the workshop, participants will learn to listen to themselves, their partner, and the space. Attention will be focused on body sensations, comfortable touch, and empathetic movement together. Free improvisation will allow for testing non-verbal dialogue and experiencing how dance is born from mutual interaction rather than pre-determined steps. Daily rituals are not necessarily complex – sometimes they can become conscious attention to breathing, body support, touch, or the person next to you. Contact improvisation provides space for such a pause and reminds us of the value of simple practices that return us to the body for our well-being. This aspect naturally connects the workshop with the idea of the "Breathing Library" – to restore the connection with oneself, the environment, and others through sensations and creativity. The workshop is open-level – previous dance experience is not necessary. It is recommended to wear loose, non-restrictive clothing. During the session, we will move barefoot or in socks. About the creator Aistė Jančiūtė is one of the most active creators in the Vilnius contact improvisation community, having practiced this form of dance for over a decade. She regularly leads lessons and seminars, organizes retreats, camps, and contact improvisation jams, and constantly deepens her knowledge in international seminars. The creator also combines her accumulated experience with the field of somatic therapy. Completed studies in Integrative Body Movement Therapy (IBMT) in 2023 expanded her professional practice and ability to create a safe space open to creativity. "The constant process of creation is what fascinates me and has kept me dancing this dance for over a decade. For me, it has become much more than movement – it is a way to create, connect, embody, and inspire others with living creative energy," says the workshop leader.