Winter Wellness at Tightrope
Improv for Wellness
What a wonderful fall we had at Tightrope Impro Theatre’s Improv for Wellness Department! We’re reaching so many people with the joy of improv along with our partners at UBC Brain Wellness Centre, Parkinson Society BC, Columbia Speech and Language Services Inc., and QueerProv. This newsletter is a chance to look back at the end of 2022 and a look ahead to our plans for this year and new partnerships!
We are so excited to be kicking off our Winter lineup! The Improv for Wellness team has been hard at work to launch our programs, and we are so proud of the courses we’re bringing to the table this semester: a new drop-in series for those with PD, Season 7 of the PD Performance troupe, a newly funded UnBlockables Program in partnership with Vancity Community Grants, our popular Improv for Brain Health class with UBC, and weekly by donation in person improv workshops with QueerProv.
Read on to learn more!
Improv for Parkinson’s
We are grateful to be partnered with the Parkinson Society of BC, and the Marlene Meyer Jewish Community Centre to offer Improv for Parkinson’s: Laughter is the Best Medicine, a 12-week, virtual drop-in course! The course is designed to introduce students with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to the foundations of improvisation and apply improv skills to life with PD. This course is offered virtually on Zoom. No previous experience required! Drop-in any Wednesday for A class, or take all 12!
Improv for Parkinson’s: Laughter is the Best Medicine
Drop-in on Wednesdays, 11:00am — 12:30pm PST
January 18th — April 5th, 2023
$10 per class
Improv for Brain Health
Through our partnership with UBC’s Brain Wellness program, we are continuing to offer Improv for Brain Health on a drop-in basis. Improv for Brain Health is open to all and uses improv skills to help students cope with symptoms of compromised brain health such as overthinking and isolation. These courses are offered virtually on Zoom.
Thank you for bringing improv into my life! Thanks for creating this program, and allowing us to share the fun. It’s been really great.
Improv for Brain Health: Tuesdays, 12:30pm — 2:00pm PST
January 17th — April 11th, 2023
Free to register.
Register on the BC Brain Wellness site:
https://www.bcbrainwellness.ca/classes/improv
Improv for People who Stutter
The UnBlockables will return this spring in partnership with Columbia Speech and Language Services Inc, with support from Vancity! Geared towards people who stutter, this spring workshop series will focus on presence, cultivating laughter, and celebrating mistakes to support participants to speak with confidence. These 3 workshops are offered virtually on Zoom. Applications are open to any adult who stutters. Preference will be given to residents of British Columbia, but all applicants will absolutely be considered! Registration is limited. Applications are open until spots are filled.
Sponsored by Vancity community partnership programs.
Please note: this is not a speech therapy program.
The UnBlockables Spring 2023 Workshop Series
Saturday, April 1st, 2023
Saturday, May 6th, 2023
Saturday, June 3rd, 2023
1:00pm — 3:00pm PST
QueerProv — Pay what you can Improv Workshops
Improv for Wellness is beyond PROUD to present QueerProv Improv workshops at Tightrope Theatre — in person every Monday from 4–6 pm PST.
Q ueer Positive workshops are open to ALL, and are a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ2I+ people.
Join QueerProv in this special improv workshop series. Instructors are experienced members of the QueerProv Troupe.
Workshops are pay what you can (suggested donation $10) and open to all levels, from beginners to experienced performers. Whether you perform, aspire to, or never intend to step in front of an audience, improv is a fun way to connect with community, and a great way to build communication skills. We strive to maintain a safe, playful atmosphere celebrating Queer experience and Queer stories. 💜
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! We’re growing and thriving at Improv for Wellness — because of supporters like you!
If you are in the financial position to help us continue our work and reach more folks with the joy of improv, email rosemary@tightropetheatre.com to arrange your donation.
We’re using funds to get our team to the World Parkinson’s Congress in Barcelona, and to expand our wellness programs.
