IMPROV SKILLS WORKSHOP MENU
Below is a sampling of workshops taught by Karla Dingle. These offerings can be done as a one day workshop for 2-4 hours or can be explored further in courses ranging from 2-8 sessions. Customized workshops can be created to address organizational needs and skill levels as well.
Get Dramatic!
Get ready to explore the world of dramatic improv and leave the laughter and humor alone. Use real situations to delve into what happens when life is complicated and people get real. It’ll be messy, emotional and vulnerable. This workshop will challenge you to listen to your heart and your tummy.
We’ll focus on heightening both the scene and your reaction through elevating the intensity with the assistance of the emotional wheel. In the end, we’ll search for the WHY in your scene to help sustain the authenticity of the performance and sharpen your senses.
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Created an updated version with Highwire Improv in Baltimore, Maryland
Game of the Relationship
Do you enjoy playing with game but sometimes struggle to find one, or get your scene partner on the same page? Then, this is the workshop for you! You’ll learn how to find your character’s game first. Then, you’ll use that game to challenge your partner’s game. When that is accomplished, it’s all about repeating and heightening and using your game to establish the dynamics of that relationship.
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Come to this workshop for experienced performers, that debuted at the 2022 Improv Ireland Festival with 2 sold out sessions, You will leave understanding that improv is about playing, agreement is about creating the relationship and justification is about finding the game. Once you’ve got all 3 intertwined you can play the game longer as well as rest it and return to it.
I Want! I Need! I Feel!
Do you want to create stronger connections on stage? Do you want to establish better relationships? Then come stretch yourself in this workshop.
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This practical workshop for experienced improvisers was first taught for The Improv Boost in Chester, England. You’ll focus on your character stating one of these three statements to their scene partner to ground the scene, define the relationship dynamics and create emotional responses. You'll find that the connection and intimacy will follow these statements as you explore what your character is feeling.
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Recently taught in Chester England courtesy of the Improv Boost.
Yes No Evolution
Improv continues to evolve and the rule that started all "YES AND" seems to be changing as well. While agreement is important for collaboration and scene building saying yes to all offers doesn't always facilitate at positive environment or scene.
What if you could say no and still build a scenes? What if you could say maybe and move the scene in a more palatable direction? What would that do for your play level and scene work? We'll work to answer these questions throughout this workshop.
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You'll dare to say no and still watch the scene grow!
Touch Me! Tell Me! See Me!
Based in Intimacy Coordinator language, we'll create space for improv that feels like it has jumped off a movie screen with affection and warm interactions.
This class will focus on reactions, responses, and replies, starting with an exploration in how our body reacts to touch, tone, eye contact and discover “why” as the scene continues.
We’ll figure out through pauses, silence, and tension how to respond. Then finally, we’ll find the words as we speak a reply to create authentic, intimate relationships onstage that will heighten the audience’s investment.
Villainy
In this workshop, we'll explore antagonist, villains and character types that are typically viewed as negative. Our goal is to dive into WHY they behave that way? What in their background made them the person they are today. We'll find humanity in their ways.
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"A villain is defined as an evil or wicked character that enacts evil action and/or harms others. A villain may have a justification for their actions that is in line with their own principles, but their actions inflict harm and create ruin in the process." -- Kyle Deguzman
Slow & Silent
Do you feel yourself rushing through scenes? Overthinking? Speaking without really listening to your scene partner? Then this workshop is for you.
We'll explore scenes where we take our time to understand what our scene partner's words mean. We'll focus on body language and tone of voice and we'll delve into scenes where words aren't necessary. Sometimes what you don't say - says even more than if you had put it into words.
This workshop is perfect for improvisers and actors!
Secrets and Lies
Sometimes what’s NOT said is more powerful than what IS said. In this workshop, improvisers will explore AND exploit the unknown or unsaid as their characters navigate through scenes. Discover how secrets and lies add depth and definition to scene work. Create strong dynamics through working to keep the secrets and lies unsaid.
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Last offered in England with Glossop Improv.
Building Tension
Do you find yourself in scenes with arguments? Do you feel like conflict has to happen in order for a scene to be interesting? Then this is the class for you! We'll play with tension and explore ways to create that in a scene. We'll discuss the differences between conflict and tension and why an audience invests into tension deeper than into a conflict.
Get ready for some silence and emotional content as we get personal, raise the stakes and sit in the moment during our scene work!
Love Stories
Do you constantly find yourself defaulting to romantic relationships on stage? This workshop will help break that pattern.
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Explore the different types of love that exist in the world through improv. You'll show affection and create connections without flirting and romance. We'll explore the five love languages as well as important life moments. This class will help create grounded emotional scene work with light, laughter and love.
Walk On! Walk Off!
Do you often think that scene looks amazing, let's join? Or I have a great idea, let me come on stage and share it? Then, this 2 hour online class is for you. We'll figure out when to walk on, when to walk off and when to just stay off stage and watch.
What's In a Name?!
“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Let’s play with names in our improv scene and discover what it does to develop characters and relationships! We’ll play with proper names, pet names, honorifics and use repetition to help remember the names you’ve given your scene partner.
Touchstones
Explore different types of touchstones from vocal to tactile to physical. Do you find yourself drifting in your scene? You start off with a strong choice but let do of it as the scene progresses? You need a touchstone! A touchstone in scene work is something you keep returning to in order to maintain choices, emotions, relationships and dynamics throughout your scene.
Improvise Your History
Creating a “back story” for your character generally refers to the process of inventing details about the history of the character’s life. You’ll discover a character who is three-dimensional and more lifelike; rich in personality, experiences, world-views and opinions – one an audience can identify as a real person. And make choices that allow a character’s backstory to grow as the scene develops.
Impact
Impact means to have a strong effect on someone or something. This is what improv should be all about. We'll explore words, actions, silence, noises and repetition to make sure our scene partner has plenty to play with and react to.
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You'll use statements that elicit a response and put the characters name as a punctuation to get your point across all while establishing what the relationship dynamics are!