In Touch with the World – A Guide to Contact Improvisation and Somatic Practices in Youth Work

Aims of the tool

The aim of this course is to equip you, as a youth worker, with the tools to use CI as a means to provide space for personal growth, improve mental health, and facilitate inclusion by engaging in movement and physical touch.

Description of the tool

This booklet outlines a week-long experience where participants engaged in embodied movement practices of Contact improvisation principles. The activities, carefully curated and deeply intentional, built upon each other, progressively encouraging participants to explore the many facets of their bodies, relationships, and the spaces they inhabit.

Each day’s practice focused on different themes, with particular emphasis on presence, fluidity, balance, trust, and the dynamics between chaos and harmony. Through Contact Improvisation, participants were able to develop social and personal skills that are crucial for both professional youth work and day-to-day interpersonal interactions.