ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with the assertion that there is a profound interconnectedness between how we think about the world and how we move through it. Using examples from everyday life as well as Contact Improvisation, a form of contemporary dance that embraces a horizontal perspective on the world, this chapter charts the cultural, economic, and somatic parallels between falling and failure – between our physical experiences and their metaphysical implications. Falls knock us off our feet, confusing our sense of place in the world. These radical shifts in orientation from vertical to horizontal register in our connective tissue as well as our psyche to conjure a deep fear of failure. Falls can be traumatic to be sure, disorienting at the very least. But falling can also inspire new perspectives – as can failing – including ones that challenge our expectations of individual success, economic prosperity, and political stability. Taken seriously, falling can teach us about connecting to the support of gravity, helping us navigate the inevitable slips and failures of life with a little more imagination and grace.
