Collective Spotlight: Gabrielle Revlock
Meet Gabrielle Revlock, a Contact Improvisation instructor and the creator of Restorative Contact, a mindful, touch-based movement practice. Gabrielle will be leading Valentine’s Day Couples’ Restorative Contact at Sanctuary on Friday, February 14, 2025.
Why did you want to become a Movement Artist?
Movement has always been a part of my life—ever since being a child. It is part of the way I understand the world. Movement is thinking. Movement releases endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin so it feels good. I also really love how movement and choreography contain meaning that can’t be easily put into words.
When were you introduced to Contact Improvisation?
I first experienced Contact Improvisation while a student at the American Dance Festival in 2003. KJ Holmes, who is a phenomenal improvisor, taught a workshop and I was immediately drawn to it, as many people are. Contact Improvisation is simultaneously a skill-based, and come-as-you-are practice. Anyone can attend a Contact Improvisation jam and immediately be a part of the dance. Yet, there are concepts, tools, and strategies that make one a more intelligent dancer and responsive partner. Developing these skills overtime is part of what makes the form incredibly compelling. The other part is the social component. Contact Improv is essentially a social dance form and it does a beautiful job of physicalizing concepts like trust, mutuality, support, and balance. It also teaches ways to say yes, no, and maybe through touch. It is powerful to be able to use your voice to communicate needs, and, for many of us, being able to communicate through the body is immensely important when words are not forthcoming or not enough.
What is the relationship between Contact Improvisation and Restorative Contact?
Photo Credit: Jessica Laporte and Dolphin Kasper
Contact Improvisation is a dance style that was instigated by Steve Paxton in 1972, and continues to be evolved by people around the world who practice it. It was originally created for performance, although it is widely practiced socially in jams. Restorative Contact is a practice that I began developing in 2020 by synthesizing key elements of various somatic techniques including Contact Improvisation, Restorative Yoga, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Tai Chi, Klein Technique, Yin Yoga, Authentic Movement, and Deep Listening. It was also deeply informed by a duet I made where I stayed in contact with another dancer, engaging in mostly slow, deliberate, and subtle movements, for nearly an hour. What I discovered in that process was the power of touch. As we rehearsed the piece, we noticed that the choreography produced a state change– we both felt more relaxed, uplifted, and even a bit woozy! When we performed the dance, audience members would comment on how it made them “flesh hungry”— they saw something that they wanted, and that thing was a kind of touch that was present and intimate, but not sexual. This motivated me to begin developing material for participatory workshops. When I first started teaching, I had people partner at random with whoever was in the room (which is customary in a contact improvisation class) but I soon realized the value in working with a chosen partner. In short, Restorative Contact is a mindfulness practice that helps us bring awareness to the present moment, reduce stress, and find greater connection with self and others. Contact Improvisation is a creative art. There is overlap but the intent is different.
What have you gained from this work?
Too many things! I often say that Contact Improv checks all the boxes. It meets my need for physical activity. It’s rigorous and there is a lot of lifting (taking other people’s weight) which builds strength. It’s social, playful, and fun. I have so many friends who I’ve met through the form. Above all else, it meets me where I am. If I’m feeling tired I can have a slow dance low to the ground. If I’m feeling energized, I might have a dance that goes in and out of the ground, falling through space, and engaging a wider dynamic range. It’s a pleasurable way of building a smarter body.
Photo Credit: Dave Ratzlow
As for Restorative Contact, it settles my body in a way that no other practice has done. I’m naturally a faster paced person and I desperately needed a structure to help me feel calm and grounded. When my attention and my emotions were getting pushed around by external forces, Restorative Contact centered me. The practice also makes me feel a lot of love and gratitude–both as a practitioner and facilitator. I know this translates to the people I work with because I see their faces soften, their voices deepen, and there is an energetic warmth that fills the room.
What do you hope your students/clients feel after working with you?
The main thing I want them to feel is that we worked together as a team. Ideally, they learned something new about themselves and discovered tools that support their goals. I want them to feel empowered. It’s not entirely uncommon for big feelings to come up, so whatever happens, I want them to know that there are no rights and wrongs. In somatic-based work we are researching—doing experiments to expand our consciousness, and thereby, expand our choices. I also hope they leave with a smile on their faces. :)
Register for Valentine’s Day Couples’ Restorative Contact (Friday, February 14, 2025).
