Customer Reviews

Action Theater: The Improvisation of Presence

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4 star:		(1)
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Unforgettable. This book is destined to become a classic. Ruth Zaporah is a master storyteller who doesn't so much "teach" improvisation as learn it with you. Based upon her experiences as a dancer and a dance teacher, her "Action Theater" system takes you through twenty stages of self-exploration that examine form, movement, and breath, among other things. As an artist, I appreciate Zaporah's ability to use her medium as a means of cutting through to the deeper levels of spiritual significance. This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the creative process.

This is a fantastic book. If you are considering it for whatever reason, get it. The possibilities are endless and it's very user friendly.

I used this book to infuse some improvisation into my modern technique class and the results were extraordinary. The students made profound discoveries about themselves, how they move and what they feel comfortable with and why... Zaporah's exercises are smart and well-framed. They are easy to understand, both simple & complex, and contain a wealth of possibility for play.

'Heard Ms. Zaporah on University of New Mexico's KUNM's (radio) Women's News (2006). She sounded fun and into mindfulness. Her book provides exercises, mostly for groups, for expanding mindfulness and developing abilities to handle risk and change.

I knew I'd love this book at the description, but that may be bias as I love improvisation. At first scan I see that a college instructor of mine used the book front to back for a class of mine - and good choice, as I loved all the things we did in that class!

Taking an improv class can be a risky thing if you get a bad teacher. Ruth knows her practice in and out, and knows all the important stuff to cover - including dealing with emotinal issues. She also communicates the exercises very sweetly and clearly. As a teacher, it's nice to have mediations written out so you don't have to think on the spot and still come across calmly and clearly. So if you're taking a class or teaching a class or aren't sure yet if you want to do either - get this book, and you'll have an intimate understanding of the form and lots of fun!