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Tane Danger

Improv Artist

“Improv...I have no idea what the next line is. I don’t know what this next person is going to say. And that’s true in real life as well. We are all improvising. All of the time. None of us know what is happening next.”

~Tane Danger

  • Improvisational theater, often called improv, is a form of theater in which actors perform without a script.
  • In this video, improv artist Tane Danger discusses some of the essential skills used when performing on stage including collaboration, navigating uncertainty, openness, deep listening, presence, and giving yourself permission.
  • To explore some of these ideas, we invite you to first watch the video.

Want to do more with the ideas in the video? Consider some options below:

Acting on an idea, especially one that brings joy or laughter, can actually help you navigate challenging situations. Tane explains that in improv and in life, sometimes people don’t give themselves permission to try new ideas. When that happens, he suggests people try to determine what keeps them from moving forward. “Is it a sense of fear? Some voice in your head telling you ‘oh don’t do that, that’s not the right thing to do right now?’”

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t give yourself permission to pursue? What kept you from moving forward? If you were to give yourself permission to do something this week, what would it be? How might you feel if you simply said “yes” to the idea?

Experiencing joy and laughter can actually give a much needed break in a hard situation. Tane quotes Stephen Colbert who said, “Do you know what I like about comedy? You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time.” How might granting yourself permission to pursue something joyful help you or someone else in a difficult situation?

Acting on an idea, especially one that brings joy or laughter, can actually help you navigate challenging situations. Tane explains that in improv and in life, sometimes people don’t give themselves permission to try new ideas. When that happens, he suggests people try to determine what keeps them from moving forward. “Is it a sense of fear? Some voice in your head telling you ‘oh don’t do that, that’s not the right thing to do right now?’”

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t give yourself permission to pursue? What kept you from moving forward? If you were to give yourself permission to do something this week, what would it be? How might you feel if you simply said “yes” to the idea?

Experiencing joy and laughter can actually give a much needed break in a hard situation. Tane quotes Stephen Colbert who said, “Do you know what I like about comedy? You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time.” How might granting yourself permission to pursue something joyful help you or someone else in a difficult situation?

Tane Danger describes a common improv technique saying, “There’s the quintessential improv notion of “Yes, and ….” Whatever comes your way, you say, “Yes, this is true, AND what else can it be? Where else can we go from there?” Practicing this approach in conversations can help you improve listening, affirming, and moving conversions forward in collaborative ways.The activity can be found HERE.

Tane Danger describes a common improv technique saying, “There’s the quintessential improv notion of “Yes, and ….” Whatever comes your way, you say, “Yes, this is true, AND what else can it be? Where else can we go from there?” Practicing this approach in conversations can help you improve listening, affirming, and moving conversions forward in collaborative ways.The activity can be found HERE.

Difficult times often create uncertainty. In improv, just as in life, not knowing what comes next can be uncomfortable. In the video, Tane Danger explores how practicing presence and deep attention can help people be more resilient and adaptable, even when the future is unknown. The activity can be found HERE.

Difficult times often create uncertainty. In improv, just as in life, not knowing what comes next can be uncomfortable. In the video, Tane Danger explores how practicing presence and deep attention can help people be more resilient and adaptable, even when the future is unknown. The activity can be found HERE.

“In improv, we try to think about everything we get in a scene as a gift. Even if it’s terrible or it seems like an insult, if you think about it as a gift, you get to unwrap it and be excited by it and explore it in a new way.” As Tane explains, the practice of shifting your perspective from trying to control a challenging situation, to being open to what is possible, can help you stay curious and engaged. The activity can be found HERE.

“In improv, we try to think about everything we get in a scene as a gift. Even if it’s terrible or it seems like an insult, if you think about it as a gift, you get to unwrap it and be excited by it and explore it in a new way.” As Tane explains, the practice of shifting your perspective from trying to control a challenging situation, to being open to what is possible, can help you stay curious and engaged. The activity can be found HERE.

To learn more about Tane, improv, or some of the themes presented in this video, please visit our resources page HERE.