Blindfold Jam (Berlin)

The next Blindfold Jam is on Sat 12.10.2024.

Sight as a sense defines greatly all our action – and also how we experience dance. And still most of dance is something totally different – experiencing movement, feeling the movement and sensing oneself, others and the world we are immersed in.
 
In this blindfold jam based on contact improvisation the temporary removal of the sense of seeing grants a possibility to sensitize into a deeper and more subtle perception and feeling of movement without the control of sight.
 
The session consists of preparation, shared and facilitated tuning-in, dance and warming down. You can leave and return the space at any time between (beyond the shared tuning-in), but you can be and dance in the space only blindfolded.
 
There is one person in the space taking care of general safety and taking care of the rules of a safer space.
 
We provide blindfolds for everyone. There will also be some special lights, some sweet music and a light fragrance (100% organic) in the space. 
 
You don’t need to have experience from contact improvisation to attend.
 
However, we kindly ask everyone to arrive in the beginning (by 19.30) so we can make sure everyone has the same instructions on safety.
 
The structure of the session is:
 
19 – 19.30 Preparation: Arriving, choosing your blindfolds and doing your own tuning-in.
 
19.30 – 20 Beginning: Instructions about safety in the space and a shared tuning-in while blindfolded.
 
20 – 21.30 Dance: Dancing blindfolded in the space. You can leave and come back any time, but you can be in the dance space only while blindfolded.
 
21.30 – 22 Warming down: You can move in the space also without the blindfold.
 
You can come and go as you like between 19 – 19.30 and 20 – 22.
 
Between 19.30 – 21.30 you can move in the space only blindfolded.
 
Jam place and time:
 
Sat 12. 10. 2024
 
Kunstquartier Bethanien, Studio 2.
 
Official address: Mariannenplatz 2, Kreuzbeg, 10997 Berlin.
 
Jam fee and link to webshop: 
 
12e
 
 
Facilitator
 
Samee Haapa is an actor FIA, dancer and a dj, who has over 20 years of experience in organising alternative clubs and raves and teaching and making radical contemporary dance.
 
Some special notes
 
Letting go of the control of the sight changes your perception of others, space, boundaries and intimacy. Please consider whether this is something you’re ready for. There are multiple safety precautions in place to keep everyone safe, but the ability to recognise and articulate your boundaries and respect the boundaries of others is essential.
 
For this jam we sell tickets beforehand so we can anticipate the amount of people attending. This has to do with safety and so we can prepare the blindfolds beforehand. The blindfolds are carefully washed after each use and handled hygienically before given to you.
 
Please ask for further information about our safety precautions – or anything else – by sending a message to centerforeverything at gmail dot com. You can also use this same e-mail for any feedback afterwards.
 
We’ll take some photos and possibly shoot some video at the jam. If you’d rather not be seen in these, come and tell it to the facilitator and we’ll sort it out.
 
Blindfold Jam is committed to the principles of safer space. This means respect for all genders, sexualities, backgrounds, bodies and abilities. Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or other oppressive behaviour or harassment is not allowed. We strive to make the space as safe as we possibly can, but we cannot guarantee a space that is totally free from triggers or feelings of insecurity.

Some feedback about the Blindfold Jam:
 
´Here I found love. What else could I ask for?´
 
´It really makes no sense to make any performances after this.´

´It´s kind of like contact improvisation, but also kind of like totally its own thing.´