Jason Delplanque runs amazing improv workshops in cape town
Meditating in a cave can be a time consuming affair. Keeping one’s concentration while chanting for hours on end with bells and incense can be difficult after a couple of shots of the finest arabica. So, how then is your average city dweller going to experience the joys of presence, enlightenment and being in the here and now like the meditating monks of old? Enter Jason Delplanque, founder of Improv Cape Town! I landed in the first Improvisation class in Cape Town (think who’s line is it anyway?) completely by accident, it sounded like an interesting thing to do and there is a lot of improv in street performance so I thought it would be good for my street skills. I had no idea how much fun it was going to be and how much I would learn!
There is no doubt in my mind that improvising is a spiritual practice. One Lets go of the ego enough to make a complete fool of oneself and working in selfless service for the good of the show with the aim to make your fellow performers look good! The key is: listening, staying present and being willing to ditch any preconceived ideas in an instant in favour of the now! I think Eckhart Tolle and the dalai Lama would be great improvisors.
One night a week for 6 weeks Jason put the HA into buddha, with heroically fun games and warm-ups to bring us into the moment and sage advice on the dos and don’ts of improvising in a group. Whether you are a performer looking to deepen your skills of in-the-moment interaction or are just looking for something really fun to do of an evening, Jason’s improv course is a great way to open up, get rid of inhibitions and connect with a fantastically interesting group of people in a strange quasi-modern spiritual way.
Our course ended with a riot of a show at Ragazzi lounge on long street and our group (The Long Shots) got more than our fair share of belly laughs and a great time was had by audience and performers alike. So next time you are looking to sign yourself up for something awesome, ditch the yoga mat and come improvise!
Glow juggling is one of the best ways to WOW a crowd that has been drinking the whole evening, fast moving lights and what looks like a guy with a third hand is always a winner at parties!
Glow juggling is probably what got me hooked on juggling and was and integral step in my move away from being the drunk guy at the party to being the sober guy at the party doing the entertaining. If there is one thing i’v learned, juggling + alcohol is another art form altogether called “dropping”. Similar movements, but just not as impressive.
Trying to get ones technology synched is an endless journey/ challenge/all out war, depending on if you have a Mac/Mac or P.C/ P.C. At the moment I’m emailing my self because I’m writing this on my phone and that is the only way I know to synch my text documents. Reminds me of when I used to get valentines day cards…
Yesterday I thought I was being wise by synching my computer with my phone so I had a back up of my calendar and contacts. Amish people are wise, they don’t use technology. All the dates in my diary have disappeared, of course those dates will still come and go except I will only know what I was supposed to do when someone phones me to complain that I didn’t do it. The Amish don’t have this problem. I’m sure the Amish have also never thought of consolidating their social media profiles, this requires that you join ANOTHER platform and write ANOTHER profile, so you can link all your profiles to more effectively communicate with friends you don’t know and never see. I am now far too busy communicating to answer my phone and speak to people.
Social platform advertising media. Otherwise known as S.P.A.M.
Now I can organize my S.P.A.M. so i don’t have to do it everyday, I can S.P.A.M. all of my friends i’v never met for the whole week with only one day of active spamming! Watch this space!
So about juggling…yes I, still do that occasionally in between S.P.A.Ms. The current run of shows at Vaudeville @ The Fez club in cape town is a real treat! I’m working with amazingly talented performers in a super-funky expose of local and international acts. I have compiled a little video of my short practice sessions in the dressing room.
Every Thursday – saturday evening come have a drink or an amazing gourmet experience while soaking up the vibe of VAUDEVILLE!
