Forty years ago, a group of dancers out of Boston made a big leap when they decided to build a community in Plainfield, way out here in the hills. That big leap became the Earthdance Creative Living Project. As the years have shimmied along, Earthdance has cemented its position as the oldest intentional Contact Improv Community in the world. Its impact has rippled through the broader culture of dance, international somatic and movement circles, and has certainly been felt locally here in the Hilltowns.
A kinetic and collaborative approach to dance, Contact Improv (CI) follows flow and the interaction between dancers. Conceptualized in the early 1970’s by world-renowned dancer Steve Paxton, CI has become fundamental for many professional dancers and holds a key space in formal training. While the form has been highly elevated, the entry point to learning is accessible to new dancers, with many new initiates still discovering CI every year. This form of dance depends on, and helps develop, non-traditional “muscles,” with an emphasis on non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to be in relation to others. These are important “muscles” to be able to flex in any community.
“Contact Improvisation is an open-ended exploration of the kinaesthetic possibilities of bodies moving through contact. Sometimes wild and athletic, sometimes quiet and meditative, it is a form open to all bodies and enquiring minds.”
From Ray Chung workshop announcement, London, 2009
The heart of Earthdance is community. From the earliest days of its establishment through to the present day, the idea of community has been central. Individual practitioners may come and go, but the shared practice and devotion to creative movement and CI has framed their approach to self-governance from day one. Whether it’s a debate about which bed of flowers to keep intact during renovations or how to equitably elect new board members, communication and collaboration are themes that will always be a part of the Earthdance story. When the Old Creamery Co-op made the transition from a private to a cooperative model, we were proud to have some of the very same founding members as Earthdance. Earthdance knows how important connection is, and invites everyone to join in in their open jams and community dances.
Dr. Daniel Joseph Hayes,
Executive Director
Established early on as a non-profit organization featuring a balance between community and organizational structure, Earthdance has grown and thrived with this balance at the core of their identity. It’s this very balance that has allowed the group to remain true to their shifting and organic roots. When the global pandemic of 2020 made the very idea of Interpersonal Contact into a scary proposition, they found creative ways to persevere. And while these experiences may have contributed to an internal debate regarding the pursuit of formal accreditation, the hiring of Dr. Daniel Joseph Hayes (DeeJay) as Executive Director has solidified a focus on their role as a community hub.
To that end, the community offers a regular cycle of open dances and training, all with a sliding scale of donations. While they still offer their internationally acclaimed Contact Improv intensives, they have also opened the space to rent for outside events and gatherings. In fact that’s a part of how DeeJay ended up as Executive Director.
Having first attended a CI lab week at Earthdance in 2006, it was ten years later that Dr. Hayes started running an annual outside event on their grounds. As his own event returned year after year, DeeJay started coming out early enough to take part in their Summer Jam and then remaining at the property through the execution of his own on-site event.
When the opportunity to apply for the Director’s position came around, he was well positioned to jump right on it. Since then, he’s become a year-round resident, moving his family from Barcelona, Spain to take on the stewardship of this important local organization.
DeeJay’s arrival marked the end of a period of turnover of Executive Directors at Earthdance. The previous five years had seen as many new folks come and go. Thankfully, DeeJay was able to use his background in mediation, as well as his well-cultivated interpersonal skillset, to guide the enterprise through these challenges. The balance between board, staff, and volunteers is key to sustainability in community-based organizations like this one. From raising the rafters of the Umbrella Studio to cooking dinner, everything takes cooperation and time for adjustment.
Of the things that have taken adjustment, our New England winters were a bit of a surprise for DeeJay, but that didn’t discourage him. Meanwhile, his connection to the land grows and the grounds are gorgeous. Apart from multiple dance studios, a famously comprehensive CI Magazine library and areas for cooking and dining, the property itself features a wide open lawn and hillside trails through forests that can take a hiker all the way over Deer Hill and into West Cummington.
The grounds are bounded on multiple sides by wildlife conservatories and land reservations, and their much-loved swimming hole began its life as a Rhodonite quarry. Having hosted an active mine for this and other manganese rich minerals until 1942, the land has more recently been producing fresh veggies and greens under the care of their staff and volunteers.
If you’ve never been up to the property, it’s certainly worth it. Pop in for a class or a jam, stay for the pot luck. Already involved with CI? Take their intensive in the winter, or step into the rhythm of their seasonal Jams. From art to movement, there is something for everyone. And if you’re looking for a space that can host a movement based event, or even just a birthday where people can run and play, keep Earthdance in mind.
You can find their Events Schedule here, and contact info below.
Earthdance
