Welcome to Class

The Change Through Play logo features an illustration with four figures with their arms around one another that reveals the shape of a hand in the negative space.

Your Journey Starts Here…

There are so many terms that we use when talking about communication and collaboration:

Confidence. Emotional IQ. Focused Listening. Noticing Non-Verbal Cues. Finding Agreement. Staying Present. Leadership. Team Building. Acting as if. Public Speaking. Adapting to changing environments.

We think these terms are all essential life and business skills. But if these skills aren’t taught in our schools or families, then how do we learn them? The answer to this question always surprises our business clients, coaching clients, and performance students:

We learn through play.

The same skill we used as infants and children to explore & learn about the world STILL remains the best tool for adults. The practice of play is not only what makes deep learning possible, but also incredibly joyous. Join us to discover powerful insights and unlock the most powerful life lessons that we promise are waiting to reveal themselves. And we know this because we’ve provided this training to the staff at some of the most recognizable corporations and non-profits on the planet.

What Is Improv?

There are two different types of improvisation.

  • PERFORMANCE IMPROV is the type of improv that features actors or comedians on stage attempting to be funny for an audience. The show “Whose Line is it Anyway?!” is a fabulous example of performance improvisation, just as the main company of actors on stage at The Groundlings, The Second City, The Upright Citizens Brigade, or ComedySportz.

  • PROCESS OR “APPLIED” IMPROV is when expert trainers teach the core lessons from improvisation to help create breakthroughs in communication, collaboration, awareness, or leadership. Process improv doesn’t require being funny, clever, smart, or quick: it’s a form of group meditation that trains participants to stay in the moment and identify opportunities.

Is Improv Hard to Learn?

No. We don’t need any special talents to get started with improv. All it takes is a willingness to play, a gift all humans have at birth. There’s no need to be clever, smart, or funny. All that’s required is staying present and agreeing. The Golden Rule of improv? We succeed the most when we hear and validate each others’s offers and then add something to it. That’s it. No complicated rules. Our Foundations & Daytime improv classes in Portland are a great place to start. So is our online improv academy.

Who Should Take an Improv Class?

We’re asked this question all the time. The TL;DR answer: anyone. Improv is all about play and play is for anyone of any age. Like other kinds of play, Improv develops creativity, communication skills, confidence, and adaptability, making it useful for people in all walks of life.​ It also means that professionals and leaders should learn improv; students & young adults should learn improv; even people facing anxiety, addiction, or burnout should learn improv.

How Does Improv Help Business Clients?

Practicing improv activates key regions of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s control center for decision-making, creativity, and adaptability. Improv doesn’t just keep the brain nimble but it also increases neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to make connections and reorganize itself. That makes learning to improvise perfect for those in high-pressure situations that requires quick decision making or collaboration. The regular study and application of improv, helps companies give employees a literal mental workout that makes them sharper, more creative, and better able to pivot when challenges arise. So, it’s not just for laughs; it’s genuinely rewiring brains to be better problem-solvers. This is why Stanford and MIT incorporate improv workshops because, when practiced regularly, improv helps develop both the quick thinking needed in fast-paced environments and the confidence to handle the unexpected.

Whether you’re seeking improv classes in Portland or team-building and business training in Portland (or beyond) — welcome to class.