A new opportunity for students interested in drama at Ecole Fox Run School has opened up thanks to a partnership with the group Improv Jelly.
In February and March, Improv Jelly is offering interested students a chance to learn improvisation after school.
Improvisation is defined as the art of making things up on the spot. Examples include characters, song lyrics, situations, and whole scenes.
Improv creates opportunities to build social skills and friendships and offers the chance to learn about acceptance and engaging with people positively.
“Creating a safe space is the most important thing to do first,” co-founder of Improv Jelly Nicole Leal said.
“Once we build that, we also build awareness of basic improv skills through games and scenes. From there, the students create their own fun. It’s wonderful hearing students laugh and be themselves.”
Improv allows people to engage with others in natural and authentic ways, she added.
“I find it incredibly healing and relaxing, and it’s one way we can help to build a strong community.”
For the students participating in the after-school program, the experience has been a fun one.
“I’ve never done improv before, so I wanted to try it. It has been nice to try something new. I like the fun games and the skits we do,” Grade 7 student Vinessa Sommerfeldt said.
“It’s been really enjoyable. I like coming because people are so energetic and happy,” Grade 8 student Anne Swainson added.
An example of an activity done by the students so far was called ‘advance and expand.’ In the activity, students were put into pairs and one of them would start telling a story and the other person could ask the storyteller to either advance or expand.
Asking to expand the story meant that the speaker would have to add more details about the part of the story they were telling and asking to advance meant the storyteller would move on with the story.
Introducing improv to the students at the school has been exciting, Improv Jelly member Hayley Nieth said.
“Middle school is a great age to introduce improv. I look back at myself at that age, and it was the most anxious and insecure time of growing up. Improv gave me a safe place to have fun and be silly. It also gave me a way to meet friends and feel accepted.”
The experience of learning improv has been a great opportunity for the students at the school, Principal Don Rattray said.
“We appreciate that students have had fun and found an environment to build and strengthen social skills and build positive relationships. Thanks to Improv Jelly for taking the time to create this experience for our students.”