The Rolling Point
of Contact

Games · Contact · Chapter 8

#6

Give Me a Pound

② Warming Contact
Players
2
Time
8–10 min
Contact
hands

Purpose

The literal, quantified introduction to sharing weight. Dancers learn that weight can be given in measured amounts and that a partner can be trusted with it, one increment at a time.

Setup

Pairs stand facing, palms pressed together at chest height.

Play

  1. "Press your palms together. Now give your partner one pound of your weight — just a little lean."
  2. "Now take it back. Now give five pounds. Take it back."
  3. "Now play: pass weight back and forth through your hands, changing how much, without words."
  4. Grow it: "Let the hands travel — the point of contact can move while you keep sharing weight."

Cues

"How little can you give and still feel it?" · "Match what you receive." · "Stay in conversation."

Variations

  • Easier: stay at 1–2 pounds the whole time.
  • Harder: lean far enough that you'd fall if the partner vanished — real counterbalance (bridges to #13).

Debrief

"When did you trust the weight? When did you brace against it?"

Watch For

Feet planted, no sudden dumps of weight. Teach: never give more than your partner is receiving.

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