Here I am in Bogota Colombia.    I’m playing with the improvisers here in workshops and a festival set up by LA GATA.  Nice nice people…

Latin Americans have a very nice quality about them.  Warm and spicy – yum.  It’s interesting hanging out with them to see how they socialize in a way that’s different from Europeans, Asians and North Americans.

Sure it’s a generalization but they seem to be willing to let moments become whatever the moment wants to be.  More often than not you will be sitting around these Colombians and hear passion and laughter but when that evolves into ‘calm nothing-ness’, there’s no panic to protect the social moment from ‘boredom’ or awkwardness.  It’s all ok.

On stage, improvisers panic when the scene and show hit the quiet moments.  We shouldn’t.  In the natural quiteness that comes in the varied states of our being why don’t we calmly accept the state and not force what is not there?  

There are a couple people in the workshops who fill all the moment all the time with all the ‘energy’ they can.  What we get is a white noise hiss of sound.  No chance to breathe, relax, sit back and take things in.

On stage, try being a little Latin.  Fill your life with passionate expression but, equally embrace calm presence.  Be aware of what the moment offers.  Be aware of what state your partner is in and let the moment guide you honestly…