Sharing by Thanh Huyen Duong, a free body and soul

Visit our class one day was Ms. Thanh Huyen Duong, a dedicated practitioner of Contact Improvisation. As she is always eager to join every activity related to this subject and the freedom of minds and souls, she comes with passions and experiences, but also with curiosity and openness.

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What inspires me greatly in CI – Contact Improvisation – is the spirit of “Yes – and” rather than “Yes – but.” Always accepting everything so that the flow continues, rather than finding reasons to stop it.

Of course, personal boundaries still need to be set, but they are established with subtlety, respect, connection, and deep listening. There is always space for both progress and retreat in CI.

That’s why CI is full of surprises.

Standing, sitting, lying down… turning, pushing, pulling… physical touch or no touch… balance or imbalance… It’s all about “experimenting,” “playing” to see what reactions will happen from your partner and how you, yourself, will receive and transform.

And it all takes place in a language without words, in the ever-changing flow.

If you only use your mind, everything will feel “overloaded” with too much happening at once: music, space, people, body, sensations... But when I set my “mind” aside, my body becomes wonderfully receptive, naturally integrating and flowing with the continuous movement.

People often think that “flow” means it has to move nonstop. But is there any river that doesn’t wind, that doesn’t have big rocks, gravel, or driftwood blocking its path?

Even when it pauses, everything remains in the “flow” as the present moment is fully recognized.

It feels like there’s no limit to the creativity that unfolds in CI. There are no boundaries; each step endlessly complements and enlivens the next.