Dana Moore is a pro at comedy and pizza. Lucky for you, she can help with both — that's if you're willing to listen.
If Moore’s not matching you with your perfect slice at downtown’s new pizza joint — Bodega — she’s taking on new students for improv.
Improvisation is about much more than laughs and comedy sketches. Moore believes it can change your life for the better, and she'll be proving that with a six-week “Improv 101” course starting in May.
“I have personally been helped so much by improv, at the very base of things listening,” Moore said. “You think you're a good listener, you can always listen harder.”
Moore's knowledge of improv stems from her experience in New York City. After attending Chico State in 2011, she moved to the East Coast and studied improv at the Magnet Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Annoyance Theatre, all in New York, before starting her decade-long improv journey.
"There's just making a choice. I have a friend who said something one time in an improv session that has completely stuck with me, which is any choice is a good choice, but a strong choice is a great choice,” Moore said. “So just making a choice gives us a direction to go in, which I think is pretty applicable to life too."
"There are no right or wrong answers in improv."- Dana Moore
Moore eventually made her way back to Chico, which is where she teaches her improv classes. She said it was Chico resident Quentin Colgan who helped her take the plunge on learning improv.
“He took me on as my theater dad in Chico, and if you don't remember, he ran for local office and just spent all of his money on it and didn't win, but he inspired me to just like, spend your money on what you want to do and what you're passionate about,” Moore said. “When he passed away, I was like, how can I honor him? And I said, you know what, let's just go for it.”
Improv 101
So, what exactly is improv? Most people’s knowledge comes from comedians, which is why improv is often associated with thinking you have to be funny to participate in it.
But Moore said don't get discouraged if you’re not the most humorous person in the room. That’s because being comedic isn’t a requirement for improv.
“It is so much less about being funny and so much more about being truthful and honest,” Moore said.
Improv is spontaneous. It’s collaborative, and mostly, it’s what happens unplanned and unscripted. The centuries-old art form is used mainly in the performing arts and requires practice and discipline.
There are no hard rules on content, but there are very common principles that improvisers use when they perform scenes.
“If everyone did improv we’d probably be happier. Because it is making yourself vulnerable. It is listening. It is building on each other's experiences."- Dana Moore
"It creates this panic where it's like, I don't know. I feel like the human condition is if you're asked a question, then there has to be a right answer,” Moore said. “So people will fumble and try to come up with the right answer. And there are no right or wrong answers in improv."
Yes, and …
More said the most important rule of improv can be summed up in two words: "Yes, and."
When your partner sets the scene, your job is to build on that by agreeing with the answer "yes" and adding to their statement.
“For example, if it was like, ‘hey, I baked you a cake,’ instead of saying, ‘that's not a cake, that's a cat,’ we can't really build on that,” Moore said. “So if it's like, ‘hey, I baked you a cake. It's like, oh, chocolate, my favorite.’ Like now we know two things. And we can build from there.”
Moore explains the necessity for forward movement in a scene. In order to see the relationship developing onstage, new information about who these people are and what they want needs to arise.
Improv’s ability to help with the everyday
Improv has many benefits beyond performing. It provides a creative outlet and fosters a sense of community and friendship, but it can also help those stuck in their comfort zone explore territories that deal with anxiety.
“A lot of people struggle with depression, a lot of people struggle with anxiety,” Moore said. “Performance is therapy, performance is like a way to deal with that.”
Studies have shown the benefits of improv on mental health and its ability to help with reducing social anxiety.
“You get people from all different walks of life,” Moore said. “People who are accountants that just want to let loose a little bit; people who want to improve their English; people who are just looking for friends.”
As a social activity, Moore said improv can connect people from different backgrounds and facets of life.
“If everyone did improv we’d probably be happier. Because it is making yourself vulnerable. It is listening. It is building on each other's experiences,” Moore said.
Moore’ six-week “Improv 101” course is scheduled to start May 10 from 5-7 p.m. at Gnarly Deli in Chico.
