Authentic expression, or just different roles? I'm fairly sure that if I was involved in contact improvisation, it would be the latter for me. That is, these are the customs I see here, so while I am here, I will adopt these customs.

The contact scene does value authenticity very much. If you simply go there, you might start out with trying to copy a role but you would be doing things wrong.

Authenticity is also not something that's easily faked if you dance with people with good physical perception. Being authentic changes the presence that you have.