There are several ways in which Aikido and Modern / Contemprorary Dance meet.

Aikido is a martial art. But it's a very special martial art. It's aim is not to conquer your opponent but more to conquer yourself. Despite of the fighting aikido can be a spiritual practice. There are different levels on which one can practice aikido.

• Physical level: learning the fighting techniques. Learning the locks, the throws and learning how to fall.
• Energetic level: learning to move dynamically. Feeling the stream of energy and flowing with it.
• Mind level: Becoming aware of the oneness and the hearth of things.Using this to become one with ypur partner and looking for the expresion of this onenness. Fully saying Yes to what is.

Contemporary or Modern Dance can also be done at these different levels:

• Physical: learning the steps on a techniqual level
• Energetic: the flow that naturally comes up when the energy is good.
• Mind level: becoming aware of the the togetherness, the spaciousness. Getting in contact with your deeper self.

Techniques derived from the aikido are very usefull, because they almost aim at the same state of mind that we try to use in Dance.  Alert, open minded, fresh, sensitive to the environment, not caught-up in the small self, moving to the fullest.

Aikido is very much grounded. Moving from one's center, very focussed, in an open awareness. This way of moving can help to develop special movement repertoire. The falling down in the martial arts can be helpful in floorwork.

On the other side the playfulness in Dance Improvisation can be very helpful in martial art to let go of all kinds of resistance.

Dance and Aikido combined give an opportunity to get a deeper relationship with movement, your aikido or dance partners and with yourself. It can be a very liberating experience.