An Opportunity for Escapism: Improv Festival!

At this difficult time for all, I believe it is necessary (and maybe even mandatory) to disconnect from the harsh realities and reconnect with yourself. Allow your mind to create, explore, and take a break to feed your inner child.

During the last few months, I had the opportunity to participate in an Improv workshop in Spanish organized by the Municipality of Tel Aviv, facilitated by Ivana Taft. At the beginning, it was important to relax, so each class started with a small meditation. It could be relaxing by listening to the sound of sea waves, feeling the energies in the room, or even dancing sessions to release daily stress.

The next part of the class involves small games, connecting with the group, playing without words, acting under different directors, and much more. These games allow you to start improvising, and suddenly, you can be a bird in the middle of the sea, a dancing teacher, a boxer, or whatever you choose.

The most enjoyable part for me is the end: the Long Form. It’s a ten-minute performance with certain rules regarding the elements and participants on stage, but from there, anything can happen. You can be a participant in the Olympic Games for Crystal Juggling, a Presenter for a protein shake made of Thai bananas, or whatever comes to your mind—and your friends’ minds. No class ends without a small circle where we discuss the class and what we have learned.

As a self-considered shy person, going to improv was a big challenge for me. At first, it was hard to pick myself up and expose myself to a group of new people. But from the first class, the group became like a family, and now I can’t wait to participate in another crazy session.

So, if you would like to explore this experience in a space free of judgment (but full of good craziness and escapism), I recommend you join the Babel Improv Fest, which will take place from September 26-28 in Tel Aviv. More information about it can be found at: https://babelimprovfest.wixsite.com/home/en