Purpose
Extends counterbalance into exploration: how far can two bodies lean, tilt, and hang off each other while staying balanced? Builds trust in shared weight as a structure.
Setup
Pairs, hands clasped or forearms gripped, standing facing, feet close together.
Play
- "Grip forearms. Lean back so your combined weight makes a stable A-frame. Feel how you hold each other up."
- "Explore: lean further, tilt side to side, lower toward the floor and back, always balanced through the grip."
- "Find the edge — how far off vertical can you go and still be a stable structure?"
Cues
"You are one structure now." · "Equal and opposite." · "Find the place where you could rest here."
Variations
- Easier: small leans only, feet wide.
- Harder: one partner lowers to the floor while the other counterbalances (bridges to #13/#15).
Debrief
"Where was the balance point? What happened when you found it exactly?"
Watch For
Grip that can't slip; sweaty hands are how people drop. Feet positioned to catch a lost balance. No sudden releases — teach: release weight gradually, always.