January 8, 2014

Arts in the Workplace

Storytelling and Improv

Nanda Abella, one of our Improv facilitators, is an Argentinean actress based in New York City. Before deciding to become a full-time professional actress, she worked in the field of international relations and communications.

As a professional actress, her credits include off-Broadway plays and independent feature films. She also has experience in the commercial world: she recently played the leading role in Walmart’s 2013 Christmas campaign (see below) for the Hispanic market. Her credits also include commercials work for Optimum and Mini Cooper (see below), in Spanish, English and French.

Improv teaches us to welcome the unknown and to use it to our advantage. Improv also teaches us to be ‘present’ and to ‘live in the moment’—a critical behavior that gives us the flexibility and open-mindedness that is necessary to face the challenges of the modern business environment.

To learn more about Nanda Abella, please visit her at www.nandaabella.com. 

“The ArtFullness Project’s improv class with Nanda was a welcome reminder that we can all use more humor in our lives. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s important to take time to slow down, have a little fun and not take ourselves too seriously. Easier said than done? Nope – just try improv with Nanda!”

Gena Madow, Planned Parenthood

Why using improvisation to teach business skills is no joke (CNN)
In a business world that’s more uncertain than ever it pays to be able to think on your feet. That’s why some business schools are using improvisation classes to teach skills such as creativity and leadership. Continue reading.

How to Disrupt the Workday for Fun and Profit (Inc.com)
If you want to remain creative and open to innovation, the worst thing you can do is work yourself into a rut, where you’re not engaging in new experiences in the world.  So we try to break up the routine–to almost train people how to change. Continue reading.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Brainstorm
 In a small room on the fifth floor of a high-rise building in San Mateo, Calif., three men sat around a table, thinking. The place was wallpapered with Post-it notes, in a riot of colors, plus column after column of index cards pinned to foam boards. Some of the cards had phrases like “space maximizers” or “stuff trackers” written on them. Many had little three-dimensional ink drawings and titles, like “color-coded Tupperware horizontal stacker.” It looked as if these guys had been locked in and told they couldn’t leave until they dreamed up 1,000 of the wackiest home-storage items they could imagine. Continue reading.

How to think faster, better on your feet
(Real Simple) — Life coach Gail Blanke went to acting school to learn to improvise in any situation. Turns out the tricks that actors use on stage can help you score a date, land a job — or just make any conversation more engaging. There’s no getting around it. We live in an unscripted world.  Continue reading.

 

Walmart Commercial

 

Mini Cooper Commercial