Harbin Jam

Letter to Contact Quarterly - 2004

Harbin Jam grew out of the California Contact Improv Jam at Harbin Hot Springs. The letter below, to Contact Quarterly from Dharam Kaur Khalsa, tells the story:

To Contact Quarterly:

Last spring everyone on the California Contact Improv Jam at Harbin Hot
Springs mailing list received an announcement that the final jam would be held over Memorial Day weekend, end of May, 2003. The organizers had been struggling with rising costs, reduced attendance, and a host of other circumstances that made them decide that they could no longer continue. They were ready to call it quits and host a final bash to memorialize 18 years of the Harbin Jam. However, like every good dancer, they left space open for change, for something new or unexpected to happen.

The jam started out changing expectations. For the first time in years, it was full, with a waiting list of people unable to get in. Yes, many were returning for a final goodbye to a beloved jam, but many also were first timers. And some of us were stubborn, die-hard jammers unwilling to let a good thing go. On the penultimate day of the jam, two gatherings occurred.

One was tearful, with heartfelt personal sharing of memories, gratitude, and wonder for all that the Harbin Jam has created. We spoke about weddings, children conceived, relationships begun and ended, deaths mourned, rituals trashed, old friends remembered, and the awe for how we come together as a community, listen to each other, take the time for differences, and live the way we dance.

The other gathering was a business meeting laying out the bottom line for what it takes to run the jam and what might be necessary for another group of organizers to take over the contract or negotiate another version. Everyone at the meeting was of the mind that this community experience was too valuable to lose. A number of ideas floated out for where to go from here and how to get there. After the jam, the organizers invited those at that meeting to submit proposals for continuing the jam.

Sure enough, after a flurry of conversations, a new organizing team came together with a proposal. It was those stubborn die-hards who were ready to put their money where their mouth was and take on the challenges of running a jam in the tattered post-dotcom economy of Northern CA. The new organizers: Dharam Kaur Khalsa, Katja Irvin, Gabrielle Fishman, Susan McKearnan, Craig Schwartz, Karin Moriarty & Claire McGibeny.

The proposal was this:

I propose to continue the jam in as like as possible a spirit and tradition, especially the opening and closing circles, dream pool, organic scheduling, performance time, and inclusion of children.

What I would do differently is begin the jam in a way that gets everyone dancing and emphasizes CI as what brings us all together. I would bring more focus on welcoming everyone into a dance framework that is open and inclusive rather than duet-oriented. I would like to make classes/skill labs available at least one afternoon and do more with group scores in the evenings.

I propose fundraising over the course of the year to provide either dance scholarships or lower the price for everyone. This may include benefit performances, a raffle, street performances for donation, and a grant from Footloose/8th St. Jam. I see the Harbin Jam as an extension of the current jam communities in SF/Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, and (with more outreach) L.A./Southern CA. I propose to make that relationship better known to the dancers who are regulars at the jams and get teachers who are interested in teaching without charge.

Organizing would be done on a volunteer basis.

This is the proposal that was accepted and we are underway for a jam in the spring. I am deeply grateful to all the previous Harbin Jam organizers and guest organizers -- Sharon Tomsky, Sue Stuart, Leigh & Rachel Hollowgrass, Julie Oak, Tim Hartnett, Brenton Cheng, Therese Gjernes, Jacky McCormick, and all those who came before me. They have put much of themselves into creating a unique community at each Harbin Jam. They are a never-ending source of inspiration to those of us following in their footsteps. I feel honored to have received much warm, insightful support from them to guide us through the transition.

Memorial Day 2003 was the end of the California Contact Improv Jam. Look for the *Harbin Jam* coming Memorial Day weekend, May 27-31, 2004. The phoenix rises.

- Dharam Kaur Khalsa

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Harbin Jam Organizers

• Dharam Kaur Khalsa
• Gabrielle Fishman
• Katja Irvin
• Claire McGibeny
• Susan McKearnan
• Karin Moriarty
• Craig Schwartz