The Art of Noticing with Tracy Burns
Aug
3
1:00 PM13:00

The Art of Noticing with Tracy Burns

A class for those of any level who would like to explore deepening their work.


In The Art of Noticing Tracy provides tools and techniques to gently hone your powers of observation so you can relax, be present and make the most of every moment. Your scenes will become effortless, playful and hilariously surprising. Participants have the opportunity to:


• Let go of the “rules” of improv
• Replace Invention with Discovery
• Be an investigator of a scene rather than the architect
• Keep a scene alive until its conclusion
• Play with commitment and freedom!

Tracy Burns has been teaching and performing internationally for over 30 years. She teaches acting and visual storytelling at Pixar, DreamWorks, Laika, The Sims, Electronic Arts, andother animation and gaming studios. She was named one of the top improv instructors in Los Angeles by Backstage magazine. Tracy was a founding member and co-artistic director of London Theatresports and was the artistic director of Los Angeles Theatresports. She has also taught numerous improv groups in England, Germany and Holland. She was a core member and instructor for the award-winning Impro Theatre in L.A.. She has also taught and performed with many other groups such as Second City, ACME (L.A.), BATS and Leela (S.F.), The Comedy Store Players (London), Unexpected Productions (Seattle), The Brody and The Siren (Portland).

DETAILS

When: Sunday August 3rd, 1-4pm

Location: TBD in Sebastopol

Cost: $50 (Payable to me via Venmo, Zelle or cash/check.) I will set up a CC option by request, but note that there will be fees.)

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Acting in Improv with Laura
Aug
10
1:00 PM13:00

Acting in Improv with Laura

Acting in Improv

We don’t need to be good actors to be good improvisers, but it does give us more to work with. In this 3-hour class we’ll explore what it takes to inhabit authentic characters with real feelings that come to life in the moment. In improv we don’t have the luxury (or burden!) of a deepdive into our characters’ motivations and history, but we can develop our ability to respond emotionally to offers and let those feelings tell us how to behave. A single class is just the tip of the iceberg but it's a start!

In this class we’ll delve into:

  • Tone, body language, subtext

  • Inhabiting vs talking

  • Letting things matter

  • Empathy & vulnerability

  • Universal feelings, and more.

DETAILS

When: August 10

Time: 1-4pm

Where: TBD in Sebastopol

Cost: $45

Contact with interest.

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Acting in Improv with Laura
Sep
7
1:00 PM13:00

Acting in Improv with Laura

Acting in Improv

We don’t need to be good actors to be good improvisers, but it does give us more to work with. In this 3-hour class we’ll explore what it takes to inhabit authentic characters with real feelings that come to life in the moment. In improv we don’t have the luxury (or burden!) of a deepdive into our characters’ motivations and history, but we can develop our ability to respond emotionally to offers and let those feelings tell us how to behave. A single class is just the tip of the iceberg but it's a start!

In this class we’ll delve into:

  • Tone, body language, subtext

  • Inhabiting vs talking

  • Letting things matter

  • Empathy & vulnerability

  • Universal feelings, and more.

DETAILS

When: September 7

Time: 1-4pm

Where: TBD in Sebastopol

Cost: $45

Contact with interest.

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Improv Meets PSYCH-K®
Apr
13
1:00 PM13:00

Improv Meets PSYCH-K®

PSYCH-K® is a healing modality in which psychology meets kinesiology. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that basically gets your brain unstuck. By going through a simple process with a facilitator, one can free themselves from subconscious beliefs that are the source of habits, fears, stresses, anxieties and so on.

I am really excited to bring this process to improvisers! In this workshop we will explore what crops up in students’ work, where they feel stuck, anxious or otherwise blocked, and they will have a short process with the PSYCH-K facilitator to address it.  See the event for Beginners on April 12 for more info.

My co-facilitator is Meaganne McCandess, also an improviser as well as a decades’ long student of multiple healing and personal growth modalities. She brings a deep empathy and wisdom to whatever she undertakes, and this work is no exception. She is excited to bring this tool to her fellow improvisors so they can be free to shine. https://www.alignedmindshift.com/


FYI , this is a workshop for those who already have an improv practice, there will be one the prior day introducing people to improv.

Cost: $70 (fees) HERE or Venmo @Laura-Wachtel (9168)

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Improv Meets PSYCH-K® for Beginning Improvisers
Apr
12
2:00 PM14:00

Improv Meets PSYCH-K® for Beginning Improvisers

Transform fear into fun!

Improv is a doorway to freedom and PSYCH-K® can help you walk through it. This 3-hour workshop can pave the way for new possibilities in your life.


ZipLine Improv aims to provide a relaxed, playful and supportive environment where participants can stretch and explore safely, and this workshop will take it a step or two further by paying particular attention to whatever your dis-ease is and addressing it with a private mini PSYCH-K® session with the facilitator, Meaganne. The rest of the time you will be with Laura, exploring the basic tenets of what makes improv work and why (hint: it's NOT being the fastest, funniest, cleverest person in the room!).


PSYCH-K® is a healing modality in which psychology meets kinesiology. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that basically helps you get your brain unstuck. By going through a simple process with a facilitator, one can free themselves from subconscious beliefs that are the source of habits, fears, stresses, anxieties and so on.


Why take this workshop? You:
—want to say Yes! to the call of self expression and playfulness
—would like to be as bold and free as certain people you’ve admired
—enjoy connecting with others beyond social niceties
—want to be authentic
—believe laughter is healing  
—want to rediscover your child-like playfulness and spontaneity
—free up stuck areas of your life
—get past self consciousness
—know that trying to new things leads to a fuller life


My co-facilitator is Meaganne McCandess, also an improviser as well as a decades’ long student of multiple healing and personal growth modalities. She brings a deep empathy and wisdom to whatever she undertakes, and this work is no exception. She is excited to bring this tool to her fellow improvisors, brand new and experienced, so they can be free to shine. https://www.alignedmindshift.com/

Cost: $70 HERE (fees) or Venmo @Laura-Wachtel (9168)

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Improv meets Feldenkrais
Mar
16
1:00 PM13:00

Improv meets Feldenkrais

REGISTER HERE

Feldenkrais is a gentle body movement technique that focuses on somatic learning—helping individuals become more aware of their bodies, movements, and habits. It also has a lot in common with improv, such as awareness, spontaneity, and adaptability.

In this workshop we will explore how becoming more aware of your body can translate to being more alive and connected on stage, within your own self as well as with your scene partners. While we will use improv exercises to explore the work, you need not be proficient in improv skills to take the class as it will apply to those who perform in any capacity; participants will be met where they are.

As someone who habitually holds a lot of tension in my throat and jaw, I personally have had amazing experiences with using FDK to reach my voice and use it more effortlessly. Even just remembering the motions relaxes me and I’m eager to explore this further by directly linking it with improv in a class setting!

My co-teacher for this is the magnificent Carie Fox:  https://www.yourbodywisdom.net/

This 3-hour workshop is $60, you can REGISTER HERE.

Contact with questions.

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