I heard several provocative guidelines for excellent design when our Applied Improvisation group toured Stanford’s graduate Institute of Design (d-School). One principle stood in particular contrast with a foundational tenet of improvisational theater. Now, a day later, I still find myself trying to make sense of the tension: should we follow a ‘first idea’ or [more…]
Spontaneity School: 10 Improv Games to Develop Courage, Compassion and Creativity
Use improv games to develop mindful presence–for groups and for you. Check out the new Playful Mindfulness book! And for “a curious romp through the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation, subscribe to the Monster Baby podcast by clicking here! It’s that time of year. Parents have plucked the back-to-school aisles clean and have watched their [more…]
Three Faces of V (as in Venice)
Like any one us, the city of Venice includes at least three sides: the shiny face she wants to have seen; an unsavory underbelly; and a realistic working element. Getting to know the real Venice—like getting to know the real students or colleagues we work with every day—means making simultaneous sense of all three.
Dolphin Training (part 2 of 2)
(This post continues from the previous one. To read that entry first, click here.) The Dolphin Training game shows us how much fun–and success–we can have when learning by positive reinforcement methods, yet so few teachers use the approach the game suggests in their own pedagogies. I’m not yet sure myself what teaching improv–or any [more…]
Dolphin Training (part 1 of 2)
The first seed of my sabbatical came at the Loose Moose Theater Company’s International Improvisation Summer School two years ago in Calgary, Alberta. One of our teachers, Shawn Kinley, introduced the Dolphin Game and my heart leapt. Two of my favorite things–improv and positive reinforcement–in one exercise? Whiskers on kittens! The directions were deceptively simple. [more…]
Teachings of the Elf Buddha
I hadn’t expected much from the afternoon. We’d help out with cleaning up Findhorn’s Singing Chamber, a work-in-progress earthen construction. Maybe we’d add some artistic touches if we had the chance. Little did I realize that we would work in the presence of an unexpected sage. Ian Trumbull is the kind of spritely character that [more…]
Whose Improv Is it Anyway?
Many folks today learn about “improv” through the often hilarious Whose Line Is It Anyway? Both the US and UK versions of the TV show (1998-2006) generate steady laughs, relying on the quick wit and sharp timing of a host and four improvisors to work through mini-scenes and suggestions from the audience. The show’s three [more…]
Group Wisdom: Strong Like Ox
What can a one-ton farm animal show us about the power of shared intelligence? Lior Zoref—and his many friends—have an idea. This week’s New Yorker magazine includes a piece that references Zoref’s TED Talk about the wisdom of crowds. In the presentation, Zoref demonstrates how groups access knowledge in a different way than individuals can. [more…]
Shamu’s Golden Ratio
Marriage researcher John M. Gottman claims that he can predict with 94% accuracy which couples will last happily and which, sadly, will not. Studies seem to prove him right. What’s the magic variable, the crucial key? It’s not height or weight. Neither education nor wealth. Not even shared interests, well-synched sex drives, or similar diets [more…]
Host with the Most
My partner Melissa and I went to China Gourmet, one of our local tasty standbys, for dinner tonight. We were excited to see that Kenny, our favorite host had returned after a bit of a hiatus. He’s a tall, lanky young man, full of energy and honest enthusiasm. He’s also the lone white guy in [more…]
