Teachers and educators interested in developing trust, enhancing group cohesion, and exploring sensory and emotional awareness through physical activities.

• Environmental & social connection: encouraging participants to engage with and be aware of their surroundings and each other.

• Self-awareness and here and now: focusing on the current physical and emotional experience of navigating through created spaces.

• Creativity and experimentation: allowing for creative expression through the physical embodiment of concepts and emotions.

Background music that is fun and engaging.

Approximately 20-25 minutes.

1. Preparation: split the group into pairs and decide who will be person and who will be person b within each pair.

2. Step 1: person a begins by creating a space that is enclosed (for example, by placing their arms against a wall so that their body, the wall, and the floor form a closed space). Their partner must cross this space while maintaining eye contact with each other.

3. Step 2: once person a has created the space and person b has crossed it, person b then creates another closed space through which person a must pass, again maintaining eye contact. This process is repeated, alternating back and forth continuously. Each created space should be different from the previous ones.

For participants with limited mobility or tactile sensitivity, allow the use of alternative materials like modeling foam, paper sculpture, or digital sculpting tools. For younger children, simplify by creating smaller, easier shapes or working collaboratively in groups. In virtual settings, participants can create statues using drawings or posture poses on camera.

• How did you feel navigating through the spaces created by your partner?

• Did you notice any changes within yourself? was there competition, enjoyment, etc.?

• What do you think is the purpose of this exercise? (Note 1: the facilitator will explain that this represents a metaphor for life, where sometimes we must navigate through difficult conflicts. This metaphor serves as a prelude to later discussions about how conflict is necessary in theatre to facilitate improvisation.)

• Enhanced trust and security within the group, leading to a more cohesive unit.

• Increased relaxation and openness to emotional and sensory experiences.

• Improved understanding of non-verbal communication and the significance of physical space in interpersonal interactions.

This activity emphasizes the importance of physical expression and non-verbal communication in building relationships and understanding interpersonal dynamics, which can be particularly beneficial in educational settings where such skills enhance teaching and learning experiences.