It is ok to look at the model nude. But not to touch. If the model is clothed, between sessions, the model can participate in the artists space.

And there is a distinctive membrane between those in the class/room, and people from the “outside”. It is extremely uncomfortable to have someone walk in, who has not been psychologically admitted into the agreement space.

If you are performing, there is a kind of tension that creates the joy of the activity. Without that tension, a performance lacks life. The difficulty then, is how does another perform under tension? And if all parties don’t know the context, skills and activities of the performance, how do you anticipate their reactions to keep things safe?

And on the other hand …

I have led large group rituals, as well as participated in performance based ceremonies. My experience is that, for many activities, direct participation, if in some manner that allows one to engage one’s own sense of meaning, is vastly better than simply watching or having some minute, and essentially unimportant activity to perform.

One way to structure things would be to have the performing group include persons whose responsibility is to focus on the “unpractised” participants. Acknowledging the requirements of the situation in a concrete way, might allow for a method to be achieved that makes such interactivity possible.

Another course, is to create that smaller group boundary, and allow for trust to be developed. In one sense, I think this is what street performers do, as they identify who in the audience is responding to their performance, and then, especially if a performance takes place over a somewhat longer period, gradually shape their performance to include the elements afforded by responsive viewers.

But more typically, you see this at conferences, classes and workshops, where people are brought into the group identity, and some time is spent establishing the group’s mores.

A very inspiring topic.
(I stumbled upon your blog through a search for Information Architecture, which led to your husband’s blog. I truly enjoy the what and how of your writing that I have seen here.)