changed:
-
.. meta::
  :keywords: east coast jam, contact improv, east coast contact jam,
             improvisational dance

========================================
The East Coast Contact Improvisation Jam
========================================

... and general froo fraw ...

|
  SpringJam2008 - Wednesday, April 9 through Sunday, April 13, 2008
|
  FallJam2008 - Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday, October 19, 2008
|

... is four juicy days of dancing among the blossoms and leaves at
`Claymont Court Estates`_, West Virginia, around one and a half hour's car
ride from the center of Washington, DC, USA.

Welcoming all experience levels, the East Coast Jam includes facilitated
warm-ups, open dancing, an evening of performance, two dance spaces, shared
lodging, luscious vegetarian meals, sauna, wide vistas, lots of outside
spaces to explore.  And the people you love dancing with most!

:raw-html:`<object title="Excerpts from the Spring 2007 East Coast Jam" width=300" height="250" align="right"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KaggdDmmNqA&hl=en"> </param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KaggdDmmNqA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="250"> </embed> </object>`

A day at the east coast jam goes something like this:  We wake from
glorious sleep to eat lovingly prepared breakfast, stroll through the apple
orchard to the huge octagonal `dance barn`_.
After a facilitated warm-up each morning, we dance, sweat, dance, sweat,
dance, sweat, sauna, then stroll back to the magnificent mansion, spread
out in the sunshine (but note that it's generally in northern season change,
sometimes warm and sometimes cold) on the
wide steps or on a blanket spread on the grass eating another sumptuous
meal.  After lunch we gather on the steps of the mansion_
for "town meeting," where we collaborate to create the jam, then we dance
more, make music, nap, give and get massages, tell stories,

.. image:: ecj2000.jpg
   :align: left
   :width: 250
   :height: 162
   :alt: east coast jam attendees

teach a class, take a class, practice, learn, walk, play, move, sing, roll,
leap, stretch, wander, cavort, breathe.  Offerings might include
`authentic movement`_
`Action Theater`_,
a beginning `contact improv`_
class, a moving and drawing structure, a discussion on current issues in
the contact community, a yoga class, poetry and chocolate, an outdoor
improvisation score... which we do till we're hungry enough for one more
delicious meal.  Evenings we dance more, sauna more, sing more, move more,
play more, schmooze more, laugh more, talk more, walk more, sleep more, and
eat peanut butter and honey on rice cakes and drink tea into the wee hours
contemplating the important (or not so important) questions of our lives.

-------------------------
`Claymont Court Estates`_
-------------------------
Charles Town, West Virginia

.. image:: dance3.jpg
   :align: right
   :width: 250
   :height: 162
   :alt: contact improv at east coast jam

Claymont Court is a 150 year old estate featuring 369 acres of woods, fields,
and farmland. Near Harper's Ferry W.Va, it is 60 miles from Washington, DC,
yet offers a quiet retreat in which to explore, dance, create and find new
inspirations for movement and growth.

Here are `directions to Claymont Court`_.


|
  FallJam2008
|
  SpringJam2008
|

`Links to contact improv sites and other things...`_

.. [video] Excerpts from the Spring 2007 East Coast Jam, captured and
   assembled by videographer and jammer Katherine Pradt - see the `full view
   on YouTube`_

.. _`Fall Jam, 2008`: !FallJam2008
.. _`Spring Jam, 2008`: !SpringJam2008
.. _`Spring Jam, 2006`: !SpringJam2006
.. _`Spring Jam, 2007`: !SpringJam2007
.. _`dance barn`: http://www.claymont.org/photos/barn2.jpg
.. _mansion: http://www.claymont.org/photos/mansionoval.jpg
.. _`authentic movement`:
   http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_7_78/ai_n6145250
.. _`Action Theater`: http://www.actiontheater.com/action.htm
.. _`contact improv`: http://www.contactimprov.net/about.html
.. _`Claymont Court Estates`: http://www.claymont.org
.. _`directions to Claymont Court`: http://www.claymont.org/directions.htm
.. _`Links to contact improv sites and other things...`: OtherCILinks
.. _`full view on YouTube`: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaggdDmmNqA
.. role:: raw-html(raw)
   :format: html