By: Dina Senior, Teen Improv Instructor
A new school year is upon us. Though I have been out of school for 16 years, I always feel an excited anticipation for the beginning of September. I love new beginnings, and September has always felt like a fresh start for me. This year is particularly exciting since we will be resuming our in-person classes for youth!
This year beginning on September 7, I will be teaching the Teens classes, which are ages 13-17, and Simon will be teaching the kids ages 8-12. We have a fun-filled semester planned for them which ends is a fun showcase/recital at the end of the semester in December.
Why would a young person want to take an Improv class, you might ask? There are multiple reasons why this is a positive experience for a child or teenager (or even an adult!):
#1 – If your child is already a theatre or film actor, improv will only make them better at their craft. Many auditions in the industry are based in improv, so it is a good skill to have in your cap. In addition, since improv helps you think quickly on your feet, you will know exactly what to do when someone forgets or drops lines in a show (which happens more often in theatre than you’d think!)
#2- Elementary schools and high schools are often big fans of oral presentation. You have to stand in front of a class of your peers and talk about a subject for a certain length of time. Improv can also help with this because we do tons of presenting in front of the class, constantly! Presenting will be a breeze once you have already done it 100+ times. This will iron out any nerves and jitters someone might have before a big presentation for school.
#3 – Improv is a confidence booster for all ages. It forces you a little out of your comfort zone, but in a super fun way that is full of games and adventure!
#4 – Improv helps with creative thinking. Therefore, it can help you be a better creative writer.
#5 – You make new friends! Some of them will be friends for a lifetime!
#6 – We’re going to do it right – It’s been a challenging past several months, and Improv Niagara is dedicated to ensure a safe improv experience. We’re going to be following all of the government’s guidelines with regards to indoor gatherings to make sure everyone can play in a fun and safe environment.
If all of this sounds good to you, please sign your child up for Improv classes before September 7, 2021. Our Artistic Director Brie Watson will also be starting to teach adult classes the same week, so please check out our classes section to sign up and to get more information.