Improv for Beginners: Boost Your Communication Skills
A course by Borja Cortés García-MorenoActor and Theater Teacher
A course by Borja Cortés García-Moreno, Actor and Theater Teacher
Learn how to improve your communication, enhance your creativity, and increase your confidence in any context with theatrical improvisation techniques
The unexpected can be both scary and incredibly exciting, it all depends on your attitude and the tools you have at hand. In this online course, discover how to be more spontaneous and learn to react creatively to life's unforeseen circumstances through the art of improvisation.
Actor and theater teacher Borja Cortés shows you improvisation skills to improve your communication as well as boost your creativity and confidence in both professional and personal settings. Throughout the course, complete a series of practical exercises to help you overcome panic or mental blocks while exploring outside your comfort zone.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 20 downloads
What Is Improvisation and What Is It For?
8 minutes, 26 seconds
Improvisation Techniques
2 minutes, 32 seconds
Expressiveness and Communication
11 minutes, 41 seconds
Warming Up
7 minutes, 8 seconds
The Listening
11 minutes, 45 seconds
Spontaneity: Impulses and Action-Reaction
8 minutes, 29 seconds
What's included in this course?
As an intro to the course, Borja Cortés tells you about himself and his artistic journey throughout the world of theater improv for the last 26 years. He also shares the main influences and sources of inspiration behind his work.
Next, hear about his understanding of the term "improvisation" and why he defines it as an art. See the tools he uses on a practical level and explore how each of these techniques can improve your expressive capabilities and communication on a daily basis.
Before diving into your final project, Borja teaches you how to warm up and get your body and imagination energized, ready for the exercises. Now discover and work on the four pillars of improv: active listening, spontaneity, rebound, and the "yes, and" principle.
According to your teacher, improv is a skill that must be practiced and trained, like a sport. Wrap up the course by learning some games to spark your imagination and perception.
What is this course's project?
Record yourself talking about a subject you're familiar with for around four minutes, while adapting to whatever external stimuli are thrown your way.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone wanting to boost their creativity and improve their expressive capabilities, whether on a professional or personal level.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary to take this course.
A space where you can stand and move around freely is recommended, as well as someone to join you for the exercises in pairs.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
me sirve como práctica personal, ame este curso.
- 2 months ago
Hola! Agradezco mucho éste curso porque me sirve como práctica personal y también para compartir con los grupos con los que trabajo. Felicitaciones Borja Cortés por explicar con tanta alegría y ala vez pausadamente cada uno de los ejercicios.
- beniubyrskiPLUS5 months ago
Kurs dla początkujących miłośników teatru improwizacji. Poznacie rozgrzewki i gry improwizatorów.
- 7 months ago
Espectacular, ame este curso y siempre que me siento retraída regreso a el y me da mucha energía y ánimos, lo amo
- 11 months ago
Super recomendado, estoy por grabar mi proyecto. Si hiciste teatro de chico te va a conectar con esa persona que fuiste y si necesitas habiliadades extresivas te va a ayudar,
He also teaches courses and workshops on improv as a personal development tool that can be applied in different areas, from artistic to business settings, which has led him to work with companies like Renfe, Alcampo, and Accor. Additionally, he works as an actor for theater productions and a range of audiovisual projects.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparation
- What Is Improvisation and What Is It For?
- Improvisation Techniques
- Expressiveness and Communication
- U3
Practice and Training
- Warming Up
- The Listening
- Spontaneity: Impulses and Action-Reaction
- The Rebound: Capacity for Association and Creativity
- Acceptance and Adaptation
- Risk Practices: Training and Example
- U4
Creativity and Improvisation
- Creativity as a Muscle
- Creative Practices for Everyday
- Risk Practices: Your Project
- FP
Final project
- Improv for Beginners: Boost Your Communication Skills
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Theatrical improvisation is a performance technique where actors create scenes spontaneously without a script. It helps enhance creativity, active listening, adaptability, and communication skills in artistic, educational, and business settings.
This course is aimed at people with basic prior experience in theater or improv, as well as those looking to apply improvisation techniques in creative, educational, or work environments to develop communication and adaptability skills.
Advanced theater experience isn’t required, but having basic acting knowledge or experience with body expression or improvisation activities is recommended.
You’ll learn creativity techniques, teamwork, active listening, handling unexpected situations, vocal projection, body language, and public speaking, along with practical exercises to boost spontaneity and adaptability in various contexts.
The course covers improv fundamentals, improv matches, creativity exercises, group dynamics, listening and responding techniques, error management, creative warm-ups, voice projection, and character analysis.
You only need comfortable clothes, space to move around, and a willingness to work in a group. Some exercises might require simple props like balls, paper, or chairs.
Theatrical improvisation develops creativity, mental agility, effective communication, collaboration, and adaptability—skills valuable both professionally and personally.