Steve Paxton
The founder of contact improvisation, through his own words and the films that survive.
| Lived | 1939 to 20241 |
|---|---|
| Came from | Judson, Grand Union and the Cunningham physics1 |
| Founded | Contact improvisation, 19722 |
| Practice he left | The small dance3 |
Steve Paxton (1939 to 2024) developed contact improvisation in 1972 out of the post-modern dance of Judson and Grand Union.12
Before contact improvisation
Robert Ellis Dunn's composition class trained Paxton, Yvonne Rainer and Simone Forti together.4 Archias's article on the pre-contact Paxton covers why he walked, why boredom mattered and the break with Cunningham.5 In 1972 he wrote that Grand Union became leaderless, with improvisation the one form all could join as equals.6 Sally Banes's classic history of post-modern dance has a chapter on him called "Steve Paxton: Physical Things."7
Founding the form
In January 1972 eleven men at Oberlin threw, caught and collided for ten minutes, then stood. In June about fifteen athletes showed the work at the Weber Gallery in New York as an event called Contact Improvisation.2 Paxton later said the Oberlin men's class turned on one question, how to keep people safe, and that the momentum two people build is the thing that leads.8 His 1975 statement gives the technical base: the easiest pathways within mutually dependent masses, with touch and balance as the base senses.9
In his own words
The library's Paxton shelf holds more than a decade of his talk. Thoughts on Contact Improvisation is called the deepest well of teaching language.3 A 1982 interview at the School for New Dance Development has him saying the work is playing the senses and finding out what they do.10 In 1983 he told Bill T. Jones and Mary Overlie that research in an art form looks unreadable until people start quoting it.11 In a 2016 interview with Royona Mitra he answered at length about the whiteness of the form.12 His 1993 essay on interior technique is the founding document of that approach.13 The 2018 book Gravity collects his short meditations on a lifetime with it.14
Watch him
The library's film shelf includes Paxton improvising solo to Bach in 199115 and to Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations in the early 1990s.16 Fall After Newton shows eleven years of Paxton and Nancy Stark Smith dancing, narrated by Paxton.17 Lisa Nelson assembled rarely seen footage from 1974 to 2014, followed by the full duet PA RT.18 One film shows him in a duet with Gerry Overington, who is completely blind.19 A free hour-long lecture covers gravity and the small dance.20
Late work
Georgelou's article on the late Paxton describes his fluid-mass gravity mental state.21 Hilde Rustad's obituary, short enough to hand a new dancer, follows the form across continents.1
Frequently asked questions
Who was Steve Paxton?
He developed contact improvisation in 1972 and lived from 1939 to 2024.12
What did Steve Paxton do before contact improvisation?
He came out of Judson, Grand Union and the Cunningham physics, and studied in Robert Ellis Dunn's composition class.14
Where can I read Steve Paxton's own writing?
Start with Thoughts on Contact Improvisation, then his 1993 essay Drafting Interior Techniques and the 2018 book Gravity.31314
| Guides in this wiki |
|---|
| What is Contact Improvisation? · The small dance · The Underscore · Jams · Steve Paxton · Nancy Stark Smith · Falling and gravity · Consent · Exercises · Glossary · How it is written · Contribute |
Sources in the library
1Steve Paxton (1939–2024): Contact Improvisation for Generations Hilde Rustad, Critical Stages / Scènes critiques 29, June 2024. In the library: History & scenes.
2A Short History Lisa Nelson and Nancy Stark Smith, Contact Quarterly 5.3/4, Spring/Summer 1980, page 43. In the library: History & scenes.
3Thoughts on Contact Improvisation Paxton interviewed 1981, annotated by his 2013 self (ed. Mazzaglia, Danza e Ricerca 2013). In the library: Paxton in his own words.
4Robert Ellis Dunn's journal writings Robert Ellis Dunn, 1980 journal excerpt, via Movement Research. In the library: The OGs' Circle.
5The Body as an Everyday Material Archias, 2010. In the library: History & scenes.
6The Grand Union Steve Paxton, The Drama Review T-55, September 1972. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
7The Oxford Handbook of Improvisation in Dance ed. Vida L. Midgelow, 2019, Oxford. In the library: Books: the complete shelf.
8The Origins and Value of Contact Improvisation Steve Paxton in conversation with Maura Keefe, 1998; PillowVoices episode 16, hosted by Jennifer Edwards, Jacob's Pillow, released August 2020 (27 min. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
9Contact Improvisation / Solo Dancing / Grand Union the three founding texts, 1972–1977 (French ed. "D'un pied sur l'autre," trans. Bigé, Recherches en danse 2017). In the library: Paxton in his own words.
10Whose Dance Are You Doing Steve Paxton, Lisa Nelson and Nancy Topf, interviewed by Aat Hougée at the SNDO, Amsterdam, 1982; published 2009. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
11Steve Paxton and Bill T. Jones, in conversation with Mary Overlie Steve Paxton, Bill T. Jones and Mary Overlie, December 4, 1983; published from Movement Research's archives in Critical Correspondence, April 15, 2016. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
12Talking Politics of Contact Improvisation with Steve Paxton Royona Mitra with Steve Paxton, Dance Research Journal 50(3), 2018. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
13Drafting Interior Techniques Paxton, Contact Quarterly 18.1, 1993. In the library: Paxton in his own words.
14Gravity Steve Paxton, 2018, Contredanse. In the library: Books: the complete shelf.
15Bach Bit Improvisation, WOW Hall Steve Paxton solo, 1991. In the library: Video library & directory.
16Goldberg Variations Steve Paxton, filmed by Walter Verdin, early 1990s. In the library: Video library & directory.
17Fall After Newton: the excerpts Videoda, 1987; excerpts via Martin Keogh. In the library: Video library & directory.
18Steve Paxton: a video amble · PA RT Assembled by Lisa Nelson & Cathy Weis; PA RT (1983) by Lisa Nelson & Steve Paxton, music Robert Ashley; Danspace Project 50th anniversary, screened Fe. In the library: Video library & directory.
19Paxton and Gerry Overington: a duet Paxton dancing with a blind partner. In the library: Video library & directory.
20Swimming in Gravity Steve Paxton lecture, 62 min, Contredanse. In the library: Video library & directory.
21On a journey, backwards Georgelou, 2010. In the library: History & scenes.
Cite this page
Alessi, Eric (curator). “Steve Paxton.” The Wiki of Contact Improvisation. Published 30 October 2026, updated 31 October 2026. https://ci-wiki.com/concepts/steve-paxton/. Accessed .