The outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic in March 2020 caused the suspension of our dance and class sessions at Oxford Contact Dance. Assembles were unlawful, ‘social distancing’ the new normal, and most people were isolated at home. We couldn’t dance together. What could we do?
Below is the Oxford Contact Dance email newsletter which I sent out in response to the new circumstances:
Date: 29 March 2020
Subject: Dance in the face of Coronavirus
Dear dancing friends,
I hope you’re keeping well in these difficult times. Our activities are suspended for the moment but for sure, when this is all over, we’re going to dance together like never before!
In the mean time
The influences on the development of contact improvisation as a movement practice are many: modern dance, aikido and tai chi amongst others.
Tai Chi can be practiced at home as a solitary activity, and one that is also meditative and hence good for mental health too. If you really want to maintain your dance body then you’d also want some core strengthening activities – seen in pilates or yoga, and a cardiovascular one – running will do.
Let’s make time to learn Tai Chi? Below are some suggestions for online materials.
Dance Inspiration
Tai Chi 24-form. The performer is Gao Jiamin.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Andrew Wood, Oxford Contact Dance
All life a dance; everyone a dancer; every moment a dance
– o –
TAI CHI
Online videos
Tai Chi 5 Minutes a Day Module 01 – easy for beginners with Leia Cohen:
There are a whole set of these so start at the beginning …
Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi Set 1 – by Master Wing Cheung:
Why not do this routine every day after Leia’s (above)?
Tai Chi 24-form
If you want to study this in depth then I suggest:
1) Tai Chi 24-form (as above). The performer is Gao Jiamin.
2) 24 Form Tai Chi Demonstration Back View Master Amin Wu:
3) Tai Chi 24 Form Step by Step Instructions (Paragraph 1) with Peter Chen:
Featured image (top) Tai Chi, Tianjin, China by
Edwin Lee (May 2009). Used under Creative Commons licence (CC BY-ND 2.0)