Dance, rest, connect. Four days of pure improvisation on the beautiful island of Texel.
Dance, rest, connect. Four days of pure improvisation on the beautiful island of Texel.
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Structure of the festival
Structure of the festival
Plenty of time to jam
There’s abundant time and space to dance, play, and explore. Jamming is at the heart of our gathering. During the contact improvisation festival, we celebrate the art of moving together in shared exploration, where touch, trust and timing guide us into connection.
With amazing food available and few fixed mealtimes, you're free to move, rest, and nourish yourself on your own rhythm.
We’ll have a few gentle gathering points like morning circles, sharing spaces, and tuning-ins to help us ground and connect, offering moments to align with the group and drop deeper into the mindset of jamming.
No formal classes, no pressure, just shared presence and improvisation; jam is our main focus.
We will explore different formats like:
Silent Jam: Move and connect in mindful silence, tuning deeply into body and breath.
Focused Jam: A theme or intention guides our improvisation, sharpening awareness and playfulness.
Performance Jam: A space to share improvised dances with others, blending creativity and expression.
Participation and input are welcome! Are you a musician and would like to play? Would you like to facilitate a jam intro? Let us know.
The Setting
The Setting
Dancespace
The festival takes place on Texel, a Dutch island known for its wide skies and natural beauty. We’ll gather on a working farm, dancing in a spacious barn surrounded by fields, birds, and tractors. The dance floor itself is the most fantastic of all. It's a dojo floor, designed for fluid movement and connection, adding an extra layer of energy and purpose to every step. It’s a simple, grounded setting with a unique island vibe, perfect for movement, connection, and creativity.
Camping
We will be a cozy and intimate group of around 35-40 participants. We will all sleep in our self-brought tents at the farmer’s campsite surrounding the barn.
Prices & Register
Prices & Register
Welcome!
We're so happy you're interested in joining us for this unique festival of movement, connection, and creativity on the beautiful island of Texel.
This price includes:
All vegetarian meals during the festival, provided by De Texelse Soepketel
Full access to the dance space and jam activities
A camping spot to set up your own tent
🐣 The Nest – €280
For the earliest birds. Limited availability until Dec 1, 2025
🐥 First Flight – €300
Still early, still smart. From Dec 2 to Mar 1, 2026
🐦 High Flyer – €320
A bit late, but you're flying high. From Mar 2 to May 6, 2026
Excited to join? Fill out the form below to register.
Program of the Festival ... Click there -->
Program of the Festival ... Click there -->
Program of the Festival
Program of the Festival
Thursday – Arrival & Opening
- Arrive, registration, set up tents, and explore the space
- Dinner
- Opening circle
- Opening Jam
Friday – Deepening
- Breakfast
- Morning circle
- Silent Morning Jam
- Lunch
- Focused Jam
- Dinner
- Integration Night Jam
Saturday – Celebration
- Breakfast
- Morning circle
- Underscore Jam
- Lunch
- Performance Jam, with live music
- Dinner
- Party Jam, with live music
Sunday – Closure
- Breakfast
- Closing Jam
- Lunch
- Check-out circle
- Communal cleaning (dismantling dance floor and general cleaning)
A short overview of the different jam styles
A short overview of the different jam styles
What is a Jam?
A Contact Improvisation jam is a free-form dance gathering where people explore and play with movement and physical contact, without any set structure or pressure to perform.
Besides the regular jam, there are various jam structures that help deepen the experience.
We will explore different formats like:
Silent Jam
A Silent Jam is a space for mindful movement and nonverbal connection, where silence creates a heightened sense of presence and awareness.
Focused Jam
A Focused Jam is an improvisational dance session centered around a specific theme, intention, or quality.
This could be something like “trust,” “gravity,” “listening,” “contact without touch,” or “rhythm.”
Underscore Jam
The Underscore is a structured improvisation score developed by Nancy Stark Smith within the Contact Improvisation community.
It’s a carefully designed journey through different movement and awareness states.
Performance Jam
A Performance Jam is an improvisational dance session where spontaneity meets performativity. It blends the open, playful nature of a jam with the intention (or possibility) of being seen or witnessed — whether by fellow dancers or an invited audience.
Practicalities
Practicalities
Transport to the island
You can reach the island by public transport, with easy connections to bike rentals (OV-fiets), or by car. First, travel to Den Helder and then take the ferry. Be sure to check the ferry schedule, as the last boat departs early in the evening:
What to bring
Your own cutlery, plate, cup, knife, fork, spoon and water bottle.
Your tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and pillow.
Enough towels and all the toiletries you need for your stay.
Comfortable clothing for all weather, be ready for sun, rain, or wind.
Ear plugs can be useful for light sleepers. Kneepads if you have and need them
Make yourself feel at home by bringing a few cozy items for your breaks and evening. Like a warm blanket, soft socks, or your favorite slippers.
Arriving and departure time
Arriving and registration time will be on the 7th of May from 13:00 to 17:00. Departure time will be on the 10th of May around 15:00hr to be able to take the 16:00hr Ferry
Community care
At the heart of the festival is our sense of community.
Each participant will take part in small, unique tasks -just one time- during the festival that help keep the space clean, warm, and welcoming.
We’ll share responsibilities such as:
Cleaning the toilets and showers
Keeping the tea and cookies corner stocked and inviting
Sweeping and maintaining the dance floor
Together, we keep the space clean, cosy, and cared for.
Location & Contact
Location & Contact
Location of the festival
Westerweg 28, Den Burg, Texel
Organisers
Roos Smith and Raul Saldarriaga
We are happy to share with you this amazing event. We’re looking forward to dancing with you!
Questions?
Roos: 06-26268212
Raul: 06-25516503
cijamfestival@gmail.com
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