Basic Improv: Spring 2024 Intensive
Class Session: June 8th & 9th
Take our Basic Improv weekend intensive where you’ll learn the basics of improv in a supportive, compassionate environment. Whether you’re completely new to improv or you’ve dabbled and want to hone your skills, this is the class for you!
Discover the art of quick thinking and on-the-spot creativity in a supportive and friendly environment. This 2-day weekend intensive class is on 6/8 & 6/9 (see schedule below) at the Sierra 2 Center with a student performance on Sunday evening, June 9th.
$150.00
Description
During this class, students will learn to:
- Revisit and embrace the powers of playfulness and joy in a supportive environment
- Work collaboratively with scene partners to establish, contribute to, and sustain a shared reality through the power of “yes, and…”
- Frame “failures” or “mistakes” as opportunities rather than avoiding them
- Proactively and compassionately support their partners through listening, humility, and compassion
- Understand basic story structure and use it as a framework for building improv scenes
- Think outside the box, stretch creative thinking “muscles,” and practice thinking quickly on your feet
- Collaboratively justify any idea within the reality of an established scene
- Commit to ideas with your scene partner(s), even if it seems silly
- Convey emotions during a scene and explore spontaneous emotional reactions
- Construct basic scenes with others, including adding specific details to scenes
- Prepare for our next class level: Intermediate Improv
- Prepare for our class showcase
- Have fun and be gentle with yourself and others!
When:
Classes take place June 8th and 9th, 2024. Please see the schedule below.
June 8th:
10 AM – 1 PM: Part 1 (there will be one 15 minute break at 11:30)
1 PM – 2 PM: Lunch
2 PM – 5 PM: Part 2 (there will be one 15 minute break at 3:30)
June 9th:
10 AM – 1 PM: Part 3 (there will be one 15 minute break at 11:30)
1 PM – 2 PM: Lunch
2 PM – 5 PM: Part 4 (there will be one 15 minute break at 3:30)
5 PM – 7 PM: Dinner break
7 PM – 8 PM: Group warmups prior to show
8 PM – 9 PM: Class showcase
We are happy to accommodate any requests to sit or take additional breaks for those who need them. You are encouraged to take care of yourself and your body’s needs! Students are welcome and encouraged to bring snacks and water and should bring their own lunches. Students may eat lunch and dinner (prior to the showcase on the evening of 6/9) at the Empire Launchpad, go offsite for meals, or join the class for group meals at Cafe Dantorels (2700 24th St, Sacramento, CA 95818) which is a short 2 minute walk from the Empire Launchpad.
Where:
Empire LaunchPad at Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th St, Room 13 (upstairs), Sacramento, CA 95818
Important Details:
Tuition is nonrefundable. You must be at least 18 to register.
Parking & Accessibility:
Sierra 2 has two free parking lots and various on-street parking options. Check out the map >
Our venue is upstairs on floor 2. The building is wheelchair accessible (including the bathrooms and access to the second floor). Please let us know if you require any special accommodations ahead of time and we’ll be happy to help.
COVID Safety Requirements:
All students must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination (either vaccination card or digital record) on the first day of class at the door or via email.
About the Instructor
Jessilee Windhaus is a proud Sacramento local and a firm believer in the power of applied improvisation. With a background in both short form and long form comedy, she is a 20-year improv veteran who has trained with Upright Citizen’s Brigade and The Groundlings and performed in cities all across the country.
Jessilee Windhaus
Improv Program Director, Empire Arts Collective Co-Founder
