Dive into full bloom at the Summer Contact Improvisation Jam at Earthdance! We will gather to share in focused movement, grounded exploration, and workshops designed to deepen your CI practice. The Summer Jam is our family jam of the year where participants are welcome to bring their children and to come as families, making this a rich multigenerational space. The children share in our living and learning spaces bringing their energy of joy, chaos, hope and playfulness.
As we prepare for this portal, we propose the following warm-up questions to tune our collective experiences: What are the pathways of connection between external and internal? Me and you? When does one and one equal something other than two? What is the alchemy of refilling one’s life force when the well feels empty? How does the quality of my focus and presence change the space? How wild can I stay in the dance while cultivating connection with the ground and with another? How can I cocreate spaces that integrate magic, connection and survival skills? Where is down? What is a spiral? How can we grow and age more wholesomely? What does it mean to pass on the torch to the new generation? What are we taking on from the originators of the form who recently became ancestors? How to stand in the mystery? How to cultivate as much joy as possible? What are the ways to open up the possibility of the body?
We invite you to bring personal explorations and questions to share.
Children’s Program
The children’s program at the Earthdance summer jam is a space dedicated to the kids aged 3 to 17 that comes alive from 9:15am until 1pm every day. The activities vary from day to day and are planned and facilitated in attunement with the kids’ ages and interests. You could expect water games (slip n’ slide, sprinklers, kiddie pool), arts and crafts, storytelling and role playing, adventure walks in the woods, fire camp and s’mores, pizza making, maybe a talent show and intergenerational activities. Five facilitators and one coordinator collaborate throughout the jam with the intention to hold the program in a way that is both attractive to the kids and easeful for the parents.
Summer Jam Details
- The Summer Jam is one of the four main Earthdance seasonal jams, it often has around 100-160 participants, offers children’s programming and is open to all movement levels & backgrounds.
- We will have commuter, children, full and 2 half jam ticket options.
- We are not offering a single day drop in for this jam.
- Please take a look at what to expect at an Earthdance Seasonal Jam.
- CHILDREN: May only attend the jam with a caregiver responsible for the child.
- NEWCOMERS: We ask that newcomers only attend the FULL or 1st Half of the Jam (Friday-Tuesday). We will be offering classes on embodied consent and CI fundamentals.
- NINE MOUNTAIN: You must purchase a ticket for Nine Mountain here AND then email robyn@ninemountain.com to reserve a bed at an additional charge.
Arrival, Onsite Check-In, Opening Circle, and Departures.
- Arrival and Onsite Check-In: The welcoming will commence for Full and 1st Half Jam participants on Friday, June 28th from 4:00pm-7:00pm. Dinner is at 6-7pm.
- NEWCOMERS: May ONLY register the Full or 1st Half Jam to attend the Opening Circle, attend classes on embodied consent and CI fundamentals, and to orient you to this new environment.
- Opening Circle: Saturday, June 29th at 10am.
- Half Jam All House Clean: Tuesday, July 2nd at 10am
- 1st Half Jam Departure: Participants will depart on Tuesday, July 2nd by 12pm (before lunch).
- 2nd Half Jam Check-In: Arrive to check-in on Tuesday, July 2nd between 4-7pm. Dinner is at 6-7pm
- Full and 2nd Half Jam Departure: All participants will depart after the final group clean at 3pm on Friday, July 5th.
Our Fees Explained
Earthdance offers a sliding scale payment for participation in this event, please take a moment to reflect as you decide on where you best fit.
Your level of contribution is self selected and does not need to be advocated for. However, we invite you to remember this contribution is currency and we ask that you stretch where you are able so that those who cannot stretch as far of a financial distance may also have potential access to community events. As you choose your rate please consider the following factors:
- Your access to income and wealth, as connected to family and partnership, both currently and anticipated in the future.
- The historical, systemic impacts of wealth accrual based on culture, race and other intersection marginalizations for you and your family.
- The regional ease of your attendance, while some community members can drive to Earthdance, others will need to consider tuition based on their ability to travel longer distances.
- Earthdance is a community and rental funded organization which recently, historically and uniquely through the Covid-19 pandemic has struggled to have viable income.
PRICING
Full Jam – Adult Tickets – Gratitude Lodge (June 28th-July 5th)
Financially Strained ($550)
Financially Coping ($600)
Financially Stable ($675)
Financially Abundant ($775)
Financially Wealthy ($900)
Camping – $25 Discount
Commuting – $50 Discount
Full Jam – Kids Tickets – Gratitude Lodge
Financially Strained ($125)
Financially Coping ($175)
Financially Stable ($250)
Financially Abundant ($350)
Financially Wealthy ($475)
Additional Kid Ticket: $75 (can be purchased after the first kid’s ticket)
Camping: $25 Discount
Commuting: $50 Discount
1st Half Jam – Adult Tickets – Gratitude Lodge (June 28 – July 2nd)
Financially Strained ($375)
Financially Coping ($425)
Financially Stable ($500)
Financially Abundant ($600)
Financially Wealthy ($725)
Camping: $25 Discount
Commuting: $50 Discount
1st Half Jam – Kid Tickets
Financially Strained ($100)
Financially Coping ($150)
Financially Stable ($225)
Financially Abundant ($325)
Financially Wealthy ($450)
Additional Kid Ticket: $50 (can be purchased after the first kid’s ticket)
No Camping or Commuting ticket prices for kid’s Half Jam Tickets
2nd Half Jam – Adult Tickets – Gratitude Lodge (July 2nd-July 5th)
Financially Strained ($350)
Financially Coping ($400)
Financially Stable ($475)
Financially Abundant ($575)
Financially Wealthy ($700)
Camping: $25 Discount
Commuting: $50 Discount
2nd Half Jam – Kid Tickets
Financially Strained ($75)
Financially Coping ($100)
Financially Stable ($175)
Financially Abundant ($275)
Financially Wealthy ($400)
Additional Kid Ticket: $50 (can be purchased after the first kid’s ticket)
No Camping or Commuting ticket prices for kid’s Half Jam Tickets
Full Jam – Nine Mountain Tickets – You must email robyn@ninemountain.com to reserve a bed after you purchase a ticket.
$50 Discount off the Gratitude Lodge Ticket Tiers.
1st and 2nd Half Jam – Nine Mountain Tickets
$40 Discount off the Gratitude Lodge Ticket Tiers.
Equity & Access Tickets
Although we’re not able to offer any full scholarships this year, we’re excited to offer up to 12 FULL JAM Equity & Access Discounts to individuals who feel part of an underrepresented and/or marginalized group in CI and have a relationship with CI. We know that for those who come from marginalized populations showing up to spaces filled with primarily privileged groups can be a challenge, and can feel vulnerable.
APPLY HERE! Application deadline is June 14th.
For those who do not identify as marginalized and are in a represented group of CI, we invite you to stretch in your payment to help support those who cannot stretch and create a more diverse jam experience for all.
Note: While Earthdance is making efforts to better support Equity & Access at all its events, this jam offers particularly strong support for diversity, equity, and inclusion through:
- Reduced pricing offered to people self-identifying as being underrepresented and/or marginalized in CI.
- Classes and discussions that aim to bring up the level of awareness and inclusion at the jam as a whole
- Affinity spaces (jams, discussions, etc.) for particular groups of people to connect, share CI space together, and rest from the pressures of being in a minority status at the jam.
Housing Options
Gratitude Lodge at Earthdance Tickets
Includes a bed in the Gratitude Lodge, Jam offerings, and food during the jam.
The Gratitude Lodge (a.k.a. the Earthdance dorm) is the main lodging facility, connected to the Farmhouse by a short wooded trail. The lodge includes large and small rooms featuring dormitory-style bunks and beds (twin & queen size) and is included in the base Jam cost. Beds are available on a first come basis.
Camping Tickets
Includes a spot to camp at Earthdance, Jam offerings, and food during the jam.
Commuter Tickets
You will have access to Jam offerings including food for the event.
Commuter Health Care: We ask that you please use caution when commuting and limit, if possible, to just commuting to and from your home and Earthdance, staying away from large crowds to maintain the health and well being of the other Jam participants.
Nine Mountain
Please contact to Robyn at robyn@ninemountain.com to reserve a bed at an additional charge after registering with Earthdance.
Cancellation Policy
Refund available up to 14 days (June 14th) before the event less a $75 processing fee.
No refunds available less than 14 days from the start of the event.
Partial refunds might be given if a cancellation takes place under extenuating circumstances (e.g. a death of a 1st or 2nd degree family member, serious non-preventable illness or accident requiring hospitalization). Refunds in such cases remain at the discretion of the local organizers and will be decided on a case to case basis according to the timing of the cancellation and other factors. We do not offer refunds if you catch a cold, the flu or COVID after cancellation dates.
Health Precautions
No specific requirements on vaccination status are needed to attend this event. Please take adequate measures to limit your exposure in the days before arriving. If you are feeling sick, or have a known close exposure to someone with COVID in the past 5 days, please sit this one out to keep the community well.
COMMUTERS: We ask that you please use caution when commuting and limit, if possible, to just commuting to and from your home and Earthdance, staying away from large crowds to maintain the health and well being of the other Summer Jam participants.
Participant Community Support
Earthdance runs as a community, thus part of the participation is that all individuals contribute to 1-2 work shifts (typically meal cleans) throughout the event and participate in a final house clean on the last day of the event. These are great ways to connect more with your fellow participants and Earthdance staff, and to feel more at home in the Earthdance buildings & grounds. Your contributions to this collective caring of this space are invaluable!
Earthdance’s buildings are ADA accessible. More info here.
HOST BIOS
Radmila (Rad/Rada) Olshansky
Radmila (Rad/Rada) Olshansky (b. Kiev, Ukraine) is an artist, performer and facilitator living and working in Chicago. She started her Contact Improvisational journey in NYC in 2010 and has been spiraling into and out of its questions and discoveries ever since. Rada’s curiosities include Non-violent/Compassionate Communication, Fake Healing, Dreams, Yoga Nidra, Mindfulness and Applied Psychology which are woven into her somatic explorations. Rad studied with Nancy Stark Smith, Kathleen Hermesdorf among other dear teachers at festivals and workshops in the US and overseas. She has been teaching dance for over a decade and currently directs a high school dance program in Chicago.
Anya Smolnikova
Anya Smolnikova (b. Minsk, Belarus) is an artist and educator living and working in Vermont. Her art practice spans painting, drawing, performance, installation, dance and community actions. Anya works with movement pathways to listen for connection between external and internal experience and aims to facilitate spaces which integrate magic, joy and embodiment into individual and community learning.
Anya started studying Contact Improvisation in Boston in 2016 and has attended classes and jams across the country and internationally. Anya has been an organizer, facilitator and teacher at the Boston and Chicago CI Jams. She is a co-facilitator of the Contact Improvisation Program and Director of Operations at the Field Center, VT and is a member of the Contact Improvisation Committee at Earthdance. IG Page @anyasmolnikovastudio
Anya and Rada met at the Chicago CI Jam six years ago and bonded over their shared experience as Eastern European immigrant artists who do CI! Together they are navigating the complexities of identity/ies and moving toward healing, making, and learning in community.
Children’s Program Host
Malaïka Bittar-Piekutowski
Malaïka comes to Earthdance with her family since 2017. She lives in Montreal with her husband and two daughters (3 and almost 6 years old) and is a therapist. She loves connecting with fellow humans and the opportunity to coordinate the children’s program since 2019.
BIPOC Host
Ming Tsai
Ming Tsai is a dancer and a scientist living in Montreal. He started studying Contact Improvisation(CI) in 2019. Since 2021, he has been facilitating CI jams and CI workshops in Montreal and other places in Quebec. After the pandemic, he took a few months off to visit CI communities in Asia where he learned more about other CI cultures and way of practices. As his first time holding this role, he aims to create a space where trust is reexamined on and off the dance floor and a place where people of color can meet and be seen in.
