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 ... to be, move, play, observe, listen, share, challenge ourselves,
learn from within and from each other, get to know new
people & ways & attitudes, and create this experience together.

We explored and experimented together with activities and
methods which help us to tune in into the unfolding moment
and cultivate our ability to improvise.

 

Yes, and... was an 8-day training course which aimed to introduce and explore principles of “improvisation” and experiment with practical and fun tools and techniques that can be readily used in daily life, creative work and in the other situations and places too.

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We learned how to jump into the unknown and to respond properly to the needs of the diverse people and situations we are working with.

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Why improvisation?

Improvisation serves to strengthen one’s confidence in himself and in his skills and abilities.

It allows participants in training to experience visceral, ‘in the moment’ practice within an overtly reflective and supportive environment. Furthermore, improvisation encourages one to actively seek the unfamiliar, rather than simply learn to cope with it. It also represents a more fitting response to the complexity of human relations in which youth workers operate and thereby help to preserve the integrity of process-based practice.

 

Who was this training for?

The training was designed for youth workers, volunteers, activists, trainers and other people who work with people, that want to refresh their skills and attitudes to their days, to other people, to work and to the world.

 

25 participants from the following countries:

 Greece, Italy, Estonia, Spain, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Iceland.

What have we been doing?

During the training we were:

• collecting new inputs and inspiration that renew motivations to act with commitment and new ideas.

• refreshing curiosity and playfulness in approaching your work in order to prevent burning out.

• improving your trainers’ skills to be more efficient, adaptable, responding to issues and demands in your work.

• widening your perspectives and points of view to see new opportunities, create new patterns, and avoid situations of stalemate when working with people with different cultural background.

• gathering specific tools from non formal artistic fields (theatre, dance, creative expression) that are not easily accessible for all the youth workers.

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By training your own awareness, acceptance, sense of initiative you can improve the quality of your actions. We wish to support you in finding ways to more efficient and creative approach through improvisation – by developing your skills to be fully present, listen, accept and act, by equipping you with new improv based tools that you can later on use in your practice.

 

Working methods

We were exploring the principles and techniques of various improvisation-based methodologies. From theatre improvisation and contact improvisation activities, going into more subtler improvisation with rhythm, music and dance, closing with creative storytelling.

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The course had also a strong component based on the sharing of ideas, opinions, experiences and best practices, whereby participants were designing and facilitating their own activities and workshps.

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In the 10 day together, we moved, talked, listened, tried, failed, tried again and succeeded. All in random (improvised) order. 

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More information and outcomes

 

For more detailed information about the day to day programm please read the DAILY REPORT 

and to nurish your imagination see the pictures in PHOTO ALBUM

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Description and instructions to all activities designed and implemented by participants in "IMPROspace" in second half of the training you can find in BOOKLET

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To tune into the soundtrack of the training listen to Spotify Playlist

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Stay updated by following the FACEBOOK PAGE

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Or contact us

via mail: improjecttraining@gmail.com

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Few words from participants

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IMPROdigous in Youthwork was a European project that took a place few weeks ago in Egio (Greece). It's been a opportunity full of improvisation, magic and nice surprises for which I sincerely thank the team of organizers @creativeyouthland for your hard work and inspiration and each of the participants for having made it so enriching and a great transformative value. One of those trips and trainings that whenever I remember it'll bring me a big smile.

I had the chance again to recognize the power of stillness applied in artistic, community work and of course Life!!

We practiced mindfullness, we danced, lead a workshop, swam in the warm greek sea, laughed a lot, shared knowledge, cooked, made many mistakes, helped one another in creating this event which ultimately brought us together as a big artistic, family network.

•• Make it simple, make it easier ••

Much touch is what we need now, to dance, improvise, grow and build together, to return to the sense of community and humanity, to recognize that we are a reflection of the same. I'm another you, you are another me. It's never been any other way .

                                                                                Nicolas

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"I am in Greece!" I thought to myself.

I went to a project called Improdigious by Creative Youthland.

It had all sorts of activities with movement, acting and voice to explore yourself and let go. Dive into improvisation and see where it guides you.

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What did I experience there?

 

* Courageous Creation *

First half of the training was facilitated by the trainers. I saw how to create different spaces, how to take care of the group and what impacts the environments.

The second half of the training was facilitated by the participants (including me). I loved that I was able to put everything I learned right into action!

I noticed I was Thinking, Feeling and Acting differently when I created and facilitated my workshop. I had done events a couple times before but always had some anxiety about it. This time was different. I still had some stress but I was feeling more in my own element.

Afterwards I understood I was more focused on my inner environment than my outer one. Even though I still I worried about how others would feel about it nor was I quite sure on how it would work out. It didnt have a huge impact because I prepared my inner self to be ready and felt confident in myself.

I understood I have everything I need to create an event. Ive participated in a ton of different workshops of movement, self development, music, theatre and so on.

All of this gave me the knowledge about different topics and the understanding on how to facilitate events.

What helped me enourmously to get over the fear of doing it and letting go of the need to know everything?

I was finally creating a good relationship with the unknown. I felt the courage inside me say "Its not my job to know everything, I always know just enough to take the next step and do it. And I have enough knowledge to share activities and wisdom to people."

I also understood I know very well how to create a safe space, how to take care of the group and be attentive on how people are feeling. Im good at time management, creating a program and giving instructions that are easy to follow. I also have a loud, strong, clear and calming voice.

With these thoughts in my mind, I felt at ease. I really did. And this is how I also felt during my facilitation. And people loved it.

Its nice to grow. Its the coolest thing ever.

 

* Unity over everything *

The group there was so gentle, caring, loving and aware. We took care of each other, felt safe and encouraged authenticity.

I got such a huge inspiration of who Ive been feeling I want to be for a long time but didnt have enough courage to be it. And this group was just the right impulse for me to become naked in my own vulnerability.

I saw how beautiful it is to be truly exposed on who you are. To be present with people when you approach them, talk with them, look them in the eye, have a pat on the back or just wave to each other from far away.

How deep it is and what connections can be made from that. This is where creation starts. Connecting one to another.

I decided I will take that with me.

I will take this inspiration and this feeling.

And I will keep it in me so I can share it with others.

To not only keep it in this project bubble.

But to break it so others can join.

 

* Trusting the unknown *

This all started with a simple conversation with another participant. And it ended up to a very important topic Ive been ignoring for a long long time.

We started talking about what kind of a life do I want to have. What I want to create, with whom I want to do it and where do I want to live.

Ive been dreaming of living abroad for 7 years now but until then I didnt have the courage to actually start looking there.

I kept myself in the Estonian bubble (only living and creating in Estonia) because I thought I needed to know everything about everything. What I will do, where I will do it and how I will do it.

This strategy only created fears and overwhelmed me tremendeously because I only saw how impossible it was. Which it was because I believed it.

And so I didnt pursue any of it.

I remember talking with this guy about my future possibilities and explaining "I dont know what to do, theres so much possibilities and theyre all scary, so I decide not to do any of them, because how am I suppose to know what to choose and how to achieve it!??"

And then he said the most magical words ever "Sigrid, you need to trust the unknown. You dont need to know everything."

I thought "This was stupid, Im never gonna do that, I dont like it, it scares me too much."

Thankfully I had my other side saying "Lets see what happens if you leave this door open, you dont need to know what will come out of it or how to enter it. Right now allow to leave the door open and trust that you dont need to know everything. You really dont. The Universe will take care of that. I just need to decide what direction to take. Not where it will end up. But just where to go."

This is where the magic really started, because I decided to leave the door open..

Thank you to everybody who was a part of this.

 

                                                                                Sigrid

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