{"id":{"repo_id":"regina","oai_identifier":"oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/8489"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/regina/oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/8489","repository":{"repo_id":"regina","name":"University of Regina","base_url":"https://uregina.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"What&apos;s At Hand: Improvisation, Group Facilitation, and &apos;Agreement&apos; Among Strangers","abstract":"In this support paper, improvisation artist Jayden Pfeifer reflects on the history, creative process, and theoretical framework at the foundation of what’s at hand: a facilitated improvisation performance that engages the gathered audience as both spectator and participant, and promotes the teacher as co--‐performer. This paper outlines Pfeifer’s background and training as a performance--‐based improviser, teacher and workshop facilitator, and prairie--‐based interdisciplinary artist. Pfeifer’s practice--‐based research utilizes a methodology made up of five skills of improvisation --‐ availability, listening, acceptance, support, expression --‐ and examines those skills as they become activated in relationship to other humans to create Agreement between once--‐strangers. The performance piece what’s at hand engages two fellow improvisation--‐based collaborators in relationship with Pfeifer to develop an approachable and accessible participatory structure, within which non--‐performers can engage in supportive improvisatory acts. Pfeifer’s work seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment, while still encouraging the rigour and risk inherent in live performance. This support paper contextualizes the performance project with reference to literature on self--‐ reflective teaching and participatory improvisatory performance praxis, examined through the lens of scholarship and contemporary practice in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation.","abstract_html":"In this support paper, improvisation artist Jayden Pfeifer reflects on the history, creative process, and theoretical framework at the foundation of what’s at hand: a facilitated improvisation performance that engages the gathered audience as both spectator and participant, and promotes the teacher as co--‐performer. This paper outlines Pfeifer’s background and training as a performance--‐based improviser, teacher and workshop facilitator, and prairie--‐based interdisciplinary artist. Pfeifer’s practice--‐based research utilizes a methodology made up of five skills of improvisation --‐ availability, listening, acceptance, support, expression --‐ and examines those skills as they become activated in relationship to other humans to create Agreement between once--‐strangers. The performance piece what’s at hand engages two fellow improvisation--‐based collaborators in relationship with Pfeifer to develop an approachable and accessible participatory structure, within which non--‐performers can engage in supportive improvisatory acts. Pfeifer’s work seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment, while still encouraging the rigour and risk inherent in live performance. This support paper contextualizes the performance project with reference to literature on self--‐ reflective teaching and participatory improvisatory performance praxis, examined through the lens of scholarship and contemporary practice in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Pfeifer, Jayden Calvin"],"institution":"Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina","degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts (MFA)","degree_level":"Master&apos;s","degree_discipline":"Interdisciplinary Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Ricketts, Kathryn","Caines, Rebecca"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Pridmore, Helen","Ramsay, Christine"],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-08","date_published":"2017-08","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:03:25Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.82465/3715"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://doi.org/10.82465/3715","href":"https://doi.org/10.82465/3715","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10294/8489","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Ricketts, Kathryn","Caines, Rebecca"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Pridmore, Helen","Ramsay, Christine"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Pfeifer, Jayden Calvin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2018-12-03T21:33:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-12-03T21:33:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2017-08"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["master thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Interdisciplinary Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master&apos;s"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Fine Arts (MFA)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.82465/3715"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10294/8489"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Regina. iii, 75 p."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this support paper, improvisation artist Jayden Pfeifer reflects on the history, creative process, and theoretical framework at the foundation of what’s at hand: a facilitated improvisation performance that engages the gathered audience as both spectator and participant, and promotes the teacher as co--‐performer. This paper outlines Pfeifer’s background and training as a performance--‐based improviser, teacher and workshop facilitator, and prairie--‐based interdisciplinary artist. Pfeifer’s practice--‐based research utilizes a methodology made up of five skills of improvisation --‐ availability, listening, acceptance, support, expression --‐ and examines those skills as they become activated in relationship to other humans to create Agreement between once--‐strangers. The performance piece what’s at hand engages two fellow improvisation--‐based collaborators in relationship with Pfeifer to develop an approachable and accessible participatory structure, within which non--‐performers can engage in supportive improvisatory acts. Pfeifer’s work seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment, while still encouraging the rigour and risk inherent in live performance. This support paper contextualizes the performance project with reference to literature on self--‐ reflective teaching and participatory improvisatory performance praxis, examined through the lens of scholarship and contemporary practice in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["What&apos;s At Hand: Improvisation, Group Facilitation, and &apos;Agreement&apos; Among Strangers"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Ricketts, Kathryn","Caines, Rebecca"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Pridmore, Helen","Ramsay, Christine"],"dc:creator":["Pfeifer, Jayden Calvin"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2018-12-03T21:33:00Z"],"dc:date.available":["2018-12-03T21:33:00Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2017-08"],"dc:description":["A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Regina. iii, 75 p."],"dc:description.abstract":["In this support paper, improvisation artist Jayden Pfeifer reflects on the history, creative process, and theoretical framework at the foundation of what’s at hand: a facilitated improvisation performance that engages the gathered audience as both spectator and participant, and promotes the teacher as co--‐performer. This paper outlines Pfeifer’s background and training as a performance--‐based improviser, teacher and workshop facilitator, and prairie--‐based interdisciplinary artist. Pfeifer’s practice--‐based research utilizes a methodology made up of five skills of improvisation --‐ availability, listening, acceptance, support, expression --‐ and examines those skills as they become activated in relationship to other humans to create Agreement between once--‐strangers. The performance piece what’s at hand engages two fellow improvisation--‐based collaborators in relationship with Pfeifer to develop an approachable and accessible participatory structure, within which non--‐performers can engage in supportive improvisatory acts. Pfeifer’s work seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment, while still encouraging the rigour and risk inherent in live performance. This support paper contextualizes the performance project with reference to literature on self--‐ reflective teaching and participatory improvisatory performance praxis, examined through the lens of scholarship and contemporary practice in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation."],"dc:identifier.doi":["https://doi.org/10.82465/3715"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10294/8489"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina"],"dc:title":["What&apos;s At Hand: Improvisation, Group Facilitation, and &apos;Agreement&apos; Among Strangers"],"dc:type":["master thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Interdisciplinary Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master&apos;s"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Fine Arts (MFA)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:03:25Z"}