ON-GOING CONTACT IMPROVISATION CLASS & JAM

Rahul Madanahalli (he / they) is a movement artist in the East Bay (Huichin Ohlone land). His contact improvisation practice is rooted in a love for deep listening, playfulness, and not-knowing. He’s grateful to have learned from many great teachers, including Mihyun Lee, Scott Wells, Chris Aiken, & KJ Holmes. Beyond the CI classes & workshops, Rahul's movement practice is influenced by a spiritual support group, hypnotic techno, & aquatic bodywork / dance. He has also performed in various dance improvisation pieces by Kyle Filley and Nkechi Njaka at venues such as the De Young Museum, Sawtooth Building, and Safehouse Arts. Within the local CI community, Rahul volunteers as a jam host, teaches contact improv classes, & facilitates a monthly warm water contact improvisation dance lab.

Daniel Berkman is a San Francisco-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, singer-songwriter, electronic musician, looper, producer, film and dance score composer and innovator of electro-acoustic music, specializing in the kora (a 21-stringed west african harp),on which he has produced four acclaimed musical releases; ‘heartstrings’ (1996), ‘feverdreams’ (1998), ‘calabashmoon’ (2005) and ‘headlands’ (2015). Daniel has composed many scores for dance since 1998 and has worked with bay area companies and choreographers such as Sara Shelton Mann, Lizz Roman, Cheryl Chaddick, Kunst-Stoff, dandelion dance company, Heidi Schweiker, Dexandro Montalvo, Janice Garrett and dancers, odc/dance, Robin Dekkers and post:ballet, Rawdance, Contra Costa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, dance theatre san francisco and many others. https://www.danielberkman.com/

Merrick Jacob is a lover of movement, continuously in awe of the body and its potential for delightful expression, wild creativity, & authentic connection. Influenced by her practices of contact improvisation, figure skating, acroyoga, and hand-balancing, she guides playful movement experiences as an opportunity for deep listening, research, and co-creation. Merrick teaches & hosts contact across the SF Bay Area and beyond.