Week One - Improvisation with Dennis Cahill

The first week also featured Improvisation workshops with Dennis Cahill from the Loose Moose Theatre Company out of Calgary. We had a great week doing Improv, even though the experience level across the participants was varied. Everyone dived in and pushed through their fears of performing without a script. 

Here are a few of the things that Dennis talked about with regards to Improv:

Defense Mechanisms - what happens to you when you fear something? Why is that thing in your head making you afraid? 

1. Thinking in advance - planning/intellectualizing. This keeps you safer but takes you out of the moment and then you are no longer present. 

2. Censoring/Editting - brains work fast. The interesting stuff is the stuff we don't censor. 

Mistakes can be twice as much fun if you just go with it. Don't place too much pressure on yourself to be good - just do it. 

During the week the participants explored control (speaking as one), advancing the scene (Yes, lets!), and status (Status Games) and much, much more. The improv workshops were great for developing skills in being Present as well as a terrific bonding exercise for the group.