Improv - The Art of Making it Up as You Go Along

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A weekend of creative arts and performances, Saturday night was the Beijing Improv troupe's show "Ice Cold and Unscripted", which gave me my first chance to see Vinny do his thing. The first rule in Beijing is if Vinny invites you something then, GO. And since I've not been to an improv night in years I wasn't going to miss it.



My neighbour Cyril survived his month long journey through Kazakhstan and the frozen wastes of Siberia so I dragged him along too. He bought me a furry hat (how did he know about my fetish for furry hats?) and combining it with the wig I bought that afternoon with Tash at the Russian Markets, I looked a true Ruski.

My mission to go incognito that night failed miserably. Those who knew me wondered where all the hair came from, and those who didn't wondered "who's the girl in the fabulous furry hat?" Well, I may have added the 'fabulous' part, but it IS fabulous. The Improv was great, and Vinny is a very talented man.





Afterwards, we went to see a great band "Dead Roses" with a very charismatic lead vocalist in a stunning little silk dress with great pink pumps. I was also introduced to cheap drinks at the Boat Bar (inventively named as it's a bar in the belly of an old boat) and sauntered all the way home when we couldn't find anything else open.

That night, I also had my first taste of my 2 minutes of fame. I met a few new Couch Surfers at improv, and while speaking to one he sort of squinted at me and said, "Hey, aren't you the girl on the cover of That's Beijing?" (which is quite impressive as I was in disguise). Yes, the new issue of the magazine is out and well, I'm one of the people on the cover. The link to the cover and summary is here (click the "Current Issue" tab near the top and scroll down a little) and the article is here.

At Improv and at Swing class on the next Monday, people were coming up and saying they saw me in That's Beijing which is very cool but what do you say to that? I get all shy (don't laugh) but now reply with "No, that's not me, that's my Evil Twin." It always gets a laugh and usually follows with, well if she's the evil one, what do you do?! I am, I tell them, a Saint. God bless you my child.

But I know that I won't ever get too impressed with myself though, cause I have people to keep me grounded. Like one particular Couch Surfer who I've met him plenty of times but always get the blank look from. This weekend I was once again introduced to him (for the 5th time) and, as always, I looked for a hint of recognition in his eyes... and still got none :)

But Sunday night was the Swing dance competition! It was a fantastic night, with Beijing's only Swing Big Band playing live, though I have to admit I very nearly chickened out from going. I somehow got the notion in my head that I was capable of joining the Jack&Jill competition, which was an individually judged free dance competition where you swap partners every song. I was assured it was more about having fun and just enjoying it than technique but the more I thought about it (after I agreed to join) I was not confident enough in my improv skills to do it! So, in preparation I took a workshop on Sunday morning at 10am (which was killer as I'd only got back from the night before in the wee hours), tried to perk up in the afternoon, donned the Red Dress and hit the club Salsa Caribe. Watching the intermediate and advanced dancers compete, and watching the demonstrations by the judges was my favourite part. It's amazing to watch the pros at work! I have videos here, you have to check it out.

But I spent the evening getting more and more nervous. Everyone else was dancing in the breaks but I was only a beginner and too nervous to move out of the shadows. I did pluck up the courage to ask Vinny for one dance but by the time the Jack&Jill was about to start I was a ball of nerves. Luckily, extra people had joined the competition for fun who had never had any lessons so my first partner was a Couch Surfer who took me for crazy fun spin around the dance floor. After that, I was fine and I even got to dance with some of the more dashing and talented men from class, so that was a definite bonus. They are so good they even made me look half decent and I made it to the second round which I was quite pleased about! It was great to watch the more advanced guys just winging it and having a great time.

It was a great night and walked out on a cloud. I've been told I've got an unusually optimistic view of Beijing for a normal Beijinger but when there's nights like that to be had, who wouldn't love this city? You just have to get out there and do it and that, ladies and gentlemen, is the lesson I learned from tonight's tale...