See the About Contact Improv page for information.
See the Watch People Dance page to see what it looks like.

There is no required dress code for contact, though it is a good idea to wear clothing loose enough to allow for free movement. Most people wear t-shirts and cotton pants (non-denim) because they are comfortable, durable, and breathe well. You may be dancing in the air, on your feet, upside down, or flat on the floor, so it's a good idea to avoid anything particularly expensive or fragile. Also, kneepads are a must. Generally speaking, being fashionable is highly optional.

This is one of the most important questions about contact improvisation, and it has two answers. The first answer is about dance: the type of contact is variable but could probably best be described as light, smooth, or rolling.

The second answer is about touch. Touch can be light, warm, fast, curious, surprising, frightening, hard, slow, soft, unpleasant, generous, sexual, cold, inviting, unusual, friendly, unexpected, comforting, and any of a nearly infinate variety of human experiences. Because contact improvisation is an interaction between two people, it has the possibility to contain any or all of these feelings. This capacity for broad human experience in a dance form is what gives contact much of its power, but don't worry! While dancing it is always acceptable to stop dancing with any dancer, at any time, for any reason if you are uncomfortable (or, for that matter, if you just feel like it). In fact, it is common to leave or switch partners while dancing.

Absolutely! Contact improv is open to people of all ages, skill levels, body types, and abilities. I have danced with people who are young and old, in and out of shape, people who are disabled, people who have suffered brain damage, people with permanent injuries, and people without sight. Contact improvisation is about learning, and everyone brings something different to the dance [themselves]. And believe it or not, you can learn just as much (sometimes more) dancing with a person who is inexperienced as you can with a professional dancer.

As contact was developed it was danced without music at all, and most of the time it still is. As an improvised dance the ideal is for each movement to flow naturally from the previous movement, and many people feel that music robs the dancers of continuity: it is too easy to start dancing to the music instead of dancing with your partner. However, sometimes dancing is accompanied by live improvised music. This creates a much more functional symbiotic relationship where the dancers dance to the music, while simultaneously the musicians play to the dancing.