Sources of Embodied Creativity: Interactivity and Ideation in Contact Improvisation

Area of Science:

• Phenomenology
• Dance Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Creativity Research

Background:

• Contact Improvisation (CI) is a dance form exploring intercorporeal connection through weight sharing, kinesthesia, touch, and momentum.
• Traditional creativity research often focuses on ideation internal to the mind, which may not fully capture the emergent nature of CI.
• Understanding the spectrum of creative resources in CI is crucial for appreciating its unique collaborative processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To typologically discuss creativity-related skills in Contact Improvisation.
• To explore the spectrum of creative resources utilized by CI dancers, ranging from ideation-driven to emergent creation.
• To analyze the role of interpersonal self-organization and skilled intentionality in emergent CI choreography.

Main Methods:

• Employs a micro-phenomenological paradigm to analyze CI.
• Utilizes micro-genetic data to examine the dynamics of creative skill and emergent behavior.
• Applies concepts from dynamic systems theory, critiquing its limitations regarding individual intentionality.

Main Results:

• CI creativity often occurs in tightly coupled, radically emergent behavior where interpersonal synergies arise spontaneously.
• Creative feats are 'distributed' across dancers through cascades of cross-scaffolding and micro-intentions responding to micro-affordances.
• Dancers exhibit 'emergence management' skills, balancing global constraints with guiding collective movement dynamics.

Conclusions:

• CI exemplifies a highly interactive and emergent form of creativity, distinct from traditional ideation-focused models.
• Skilled intentionality in CI is characterized by momentary micro-intentions that skillfully navigate and shape emergent movement.
• The study validates interpersonal self-organization in CI while highlighting the crucial role of individual 'emergence management'.