Impetus: a journey into solo improvisation / Ben Kim (2024)

This research, titled “Impetus: A Journey into Solo Improvisation,” explores the motivations and methodologies for engaging in dance improvisation with confidence and clarity. The practice spans over a period of twenty days, during which daily ten-minute solo improvisation sessions were conducted using varying textures such as fluidity, slowness, and heaviness. Key explorations highlight the importance of clear intention in improvisation, as clarity of purpose was found to eliminate hesitation and improve the alignment of outcomes with initial goals. Early experimentation involved textures like fluidity, stickiness, and heaviness, which were later refined to lightness, slowness, and breaking to enhance explicitness and confidence in movement. Imagination emerged as a crucial component, fuelling creativity, and aiding in the vivid expression of ideas. The study also delved into habitual patterns and psychological factors, emphasizing the need for a positive mindset and emotional resilience. Practical strategies, such as the ‘IN & OUT’ approach, were developed to manage moments of uncertainty and maintain flow during improvisation. Feedback from peers and audience members provided valuable external perspectives, further refining the techniques, and enhancing clarity for observers. The research underscores the interplay between space, sound, rhythm, and improvisational success, offering dancers practical insights to enhance their practice through a holistic approach to movement exploration. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of solo dance improvisation. By focusing on clear intentions, diving into imagination, embracing habitual patterns, and considering environmental influences, dancers can achieve more engaging and effective improvisational performances. The explorations underscore the importance of a mindset and the continuous exploration of unique movement possibilities.