Ptarmigan operated in Tallinn from 2011-2014. We no longer maintain any presence in Tallinn, but this website will continue to serve as an archive of the activities produced at Ptarmigan during these years.
Contact Improvisation is a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for exploration through movement improvisation.
Contact Improvisation develops your creativity, movement imagination, and sensitivity to partner or yourself for individual dance and movement, and celebrates the joy of moving. It is a form of dance improvisation and is one of the best-known and most characteristic forms of postmodern dance.
Contact Improvisation was initiated by Steve Paxton in 1972. It was influenced by original martial arts (aikido)/yoga/release work, but also incorporations from BMC, Alexander, T'ai chi chuan etc. In contact the point of touch is envisioned as a roving window on the surface of both bodies through which actions are communicated. It is very sensitive and accurate communication.
Contact Improv jamms are free open dance meetings where everybody finds they own dance expression, based onemotion, creativity, and experience in harmony with a partner, partners or solo. After the warmup and some contact excercise comes a free jamm. It is always possible to finish or interrupt the dance and watch the other dancers from the side and join any time. Each jam is different, in which everybody is responsible for themselves.
This meetings are for everybody regardless of age or experience. The meetings are open so it is possible to join any time.