Improvising is more about how we react to the unexpected than cracking good jokes.
Overcoming jugdement.
Overcoming judgment is improvising.
The practice of improvisation teaches us how to react to an unexpected situation in front of others. It’s a powerful way to overcome judgement and inspire others to embrace failure with elegance and joy.
Acknowledging scary moments.
Facing your fears is improvising.
Fear is your best friend.
Fear is an emotion that indicates you when something is not under your control. Sometimes, it means that you have to run away for your life, sometimes it means you have to opportunity to learn about yourself. Improvising is balancing between the comfort zone (control) and the unknown zone. Once you’re able to breathe through your fears, you’re going to rise like a rocket!
Recognising and accepting emotions.
Feeling is improvising.
“Don’t be sad.”, “Don’t get upset!”, “Don’t make trouble”… Sounds familiar?
But, what would be the humankind without emotions? What would it look like if we would never feel anger, joy, sadness, surprise, pride, fear, disgust? Emotions connect humans, for the best and for the worst. Understanding and mastering emotions is sport. And you can become an athlete of emotions!
With “Yes and” comes great responsibilities.
“Yes and” is improvising.
No.
Yes but no.
Yes but ...
Yes.
Yes and !
Creating with your team is about giving up on what you thought it would look like. Once you did that (Good job!), you can start listening to others. “No, Yes but no, Yes but…, Yes.” are the steps you’ll go through, no matter how experienced you are. The days you will pass the “Yes and”, you’ll know, it’s quite memorable, it’s pure creation.
Pauline Calmé is amazing with improvisation. I saw her show, […] and it was so thought provoking, hilarious and interactive. and she did the show some nights in English and the other nights in French. Highly recommend her. And arts can be very healing, creative and extending for students in such a time.
Letty Tseng, Melbournian performer
Improvising is creating
So, you overcame judgment, you faced your fears, and you felt your feelings. Congratulations! You are the best improviser ever. You deserve a reward!
This reward is … your own creativity! Yes! You have in front of you the wonderful world of whatever you have in your mind. You own it. It’s yours! You made it yourself! Bravo!
Pauline Calmé 