Full Spectrum Improvisation Workshops With Joya Cory

I loved the Intensive Workshop I did with Joya and her guest teacher. We sang, danced, spoke, listened & loved our way through scenes, warm-​ups, and (even) a final performance. WHEW ! The class exercises had me digging deep, deeper, deepest to evolve my improvisational imagination.

I wholeheartedly recommend Joya Cory as a teacher of improvisation. I recently participated in a two day «beginner/​intermediate» workshop with her. She created a supportive atmosphere in which students of various levels were able to find imaginative expression from their present moment experience. I was surprised by what came out of me and my fellow students, and the camaraderie which this fostered. I perceived her as having a very diverse level of wisdom to benefit all of her students in their developement and basic appreciation of this life experience.

I just finished the third 5-​week series of Full Spectrum Improvisation with Joya and I am signed up for more. Originally, I sought out the class to add some more play to my life — little did I know that I signed up for so much more.
Because Joya’s style of improvisations calls for the full spectrum of emotions (hence the name) as well as integration of movement with voice, I am learning to let out emotions that I used to censor. This is having quite a cathartic effect on my life — not that I now go around screaming in anger all the time! Instead I feel as if I am returning to wholeness, integrating the various sides of myself to show up authentically. It’s amazing to me that I learn to unpack myself from the cultural norms in an acting class.
Part of the depth of change I am noticing in me is due to Joya’s ability to create a safe space. Having attended lots of self-​help groups, I have become particularly aware of the importance of the group-​container (having gotten hurt once by its absence). Joya brings all the students together in the class to help each other advance in ways I didn’t thought possible — all because we learn to hold each other with acceptance no matter what we try out.
On the technical side, Joya brings a wealth of experience to class, which she draws from by providing exercises pushing us to learn to express ourselves through body and voice. She is also a keen observer, noticing things that might get in the way of our acting — often challenging us (gently and with care) to go past our comfort zone. And that is when I notice most of the growth because it turns out that I can try something uncomfortable and survive…
If you are looking to learn improvisation, I can recommend Joya very highly. Just be prepared for some positive changes in the rest of your life!

I took Joya’s beginner’s class April/​May 2013.
Joya’s class offers an amazingly safe space for students to explore beginner’s improv. The investment she takes in her students’ growth really shines in her attentiveness and ability to keep track of each of us. The insightful way she drove me to be reflective of my own thoughts allowed me to gain a strong awareness of my inner dialogue and better understand how to harness the creativity within me in a truly authentic way!
I 100% recommend Joya’s class!

Super talented teacher. You’re in great hands!

I have been thoroughly enjoying Joya’s classes. She offers so much in a variety of improv exercises that are fun and challenging. I am learning and expanding. I feel very comfortable and safe exposing true things about myself and exploring parts i have barely touched. It has been wonderful meeting the other people in the class and playing with them. I haven’t laughed or felt so much joy in quite a while.
Joya supports expression coming from an authentic place where you can be both vulnerable and strong.

If you want freedom, if you want to allow your true creativity nature to be revealed, do a few of Joya’s classes. Allow her to work with you. Who knew that «acting» could be so authentic for the audience, and the actor.

Joya helped me to realize my potential and share my story. She is supportive and honest. A true professional, I will continue to work with her until my story is complete. Who know when that will be? She has helped me to appreciate the journey! I highly recommend her solo performance workshop as well as her full spectrum improv.

Often we take a class and expect to learn a new pose, move or technique. But rarely does one get the privilege of having it all wrapped in seamlessly, without being able to trace the ending of one from the beginning of another. Joya’s classes impart an experience that is holistic and indelible. I never feel like I am «doing» an exercise; and I always feel like I am unraveling myself. In just a few classes I have access more of my acting/​improv authenticity than I have in several series at various reputable institutes in the Bay Area.
I think there are many reasons to like a teacher. With Joya, I cannot begin to identify the 3 traits that keeps me returning to her classes. And I hope I never can. She’s the Full Spectrum — the name is so appropriate. I immensely enjoy her presence, words, attitude, teaching, pace, space and delivery. It’s such a freeing, supportive and focusing environment for being and doing.

I went into this class because I wanted to be able to think on my feet and escape from my head. I wasn’t keen on doing it but I did it. It turned out to be a great class. Joya kept the atmosphere safe, comfortable and respectful. We worked on a number of exercises that really taught you about the inner workings of improv along with how the body displays as much as words can.
I would recommend this class to anyone and am definitely going back.

I have worked with Joya on and off for many years in both improvisation workshops and solo performance. She has gobs of useful experience and insights that have helped me with both public speaking and stand up comedy. One of the many things I really gained from Joyas instruction was about breaking things down into «beats» slowing delivery down and putting ideas into different orders for better rythm and flow. I highly reccommend her classes for anyone serious about improving performance skills –Dave O

It only gets better… after attending Joya’s beginner classes in SF and Berkeley and her advanced Saturday class for over a year… I’ve performed live in front of a real, paying audience — WOW! A year ago I would have never thought I’d be in front of a real audience, having a blast and making them laugh and/​or cry. Not only have a I had a terrific time playing in class, I’ve learned a ton.

«Joya approaches improvisation as an art form, while using it as a tool for personal growth and exploration. She helps her students work as an ensemble, while holding each of us with great care. She builds on our strengths, while stretching our growing edges. Joya’s feedback is compassionate, yet honest, artistically oriented yet psychologically empowering. This is not therapy, but I found the work to be deeply therapeutic. I say, if you have even the tiniest impulse to give Joya’s class a try, follow that impulse!»
–Rosy Aronson, Expressive Arts Therapist, artist

way rockin’ the ground I stand on! I did almost a year at the beginner level. The experience and the process is nutritious and energizing. I recall a couple of personal bursts of brilliance beyond the confines of my inner critic. That has allowed a deeped connection with my heart while thinking on my feet. As an expected result I’m livin life now more in the now. I even get few laughs, like, without trying!

It was one of those special days in SF, filled with electric human energy, when I sat in a coffee shop smiling over my delicious steaming hot coffee and feeling absolute blissed out for having chosen to live in a town full of creative, beautiful, fun, open people. As a classic introvert I had been on the observing side of all things performance and social life around San Francisco for a while and that day, too, I was sitting in the back of the café watching people buzzing in and out. It was then that my longing for wanting to be in on all the buzz, rather than on the outside pinched my heart repeatedly. I knew it would take a leap and jump to get out of my shell and put myself out there. I knew it would be worth it, but how does one do this when the ability for openness is not part of your natural DNA manual? In that moment I looked up and spotted a flyer for Joya’s class dangling of the wall, dancing in the rhythm of the door opening and closing. The description of the class seemed a continuation of my thought process and offered a tangible solution for my dilemma. The flyer said: «FULL SPECTRUM IMPROVISATION a unique approach that unlocks your larger self and enables you access to the unfettered, daring Self-​of-​all-​possibilities. Taught in a supportive atmosphere, this training releases powerful creative energy, imagination and spontaneity.»
That day at the coffee shop occurred over a year ago and I have been going to Joya’s class ever since. Looking back I can say that I got all I had hoped for. Joya’s casual class setting makes it really easy for anyone to walk in, feel invited and through play and fun access some of the inner expressions I would normally in my every day life suppress through fear and inhibitions. Of course I have not magically mutated into some else or stormed the big stage, since that truly wouldn’t be my authentic self, but what the training with Joya does for me is create a memory of that other side of me. With that growing memory and knowledge of free expression I find myself increasingly taking more risks, even if the risk of the day is striking up a conversation with someone when perhaps before I would have walked away only thinking about going into action (should have, could have, would have…).
Joya is a wonderful woman and great teacher. Her wealth of experience and unique intuition makes her a skilled teacher who knows what the group needs each class and stays flexible in her approach. I have learned a ton of terminology relating to traditional and unconventional practices of acting. The individual exercises vary from solo performance training to partner scenes or group scenes, following Joya’s unique style of improve training. The idea is to identify words or physical motion within you and transform the material into a spontaneous expression without the attachment of outcome. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
I would not know a better way to spend my Saturday afternoon, going home exhilarated after class and ready to jump into the rest of my weekend.
If you are looking for acting classes/​improve classes/​expression classes/​speech training classes and came across this review, then I truly hope you are inspired to try it out.
See you in class. Judith

Joya rocks.
I took Joya’s solo performance class. Thing is that I’d never done anything like that before. I had a bunch of straight-​up public speaking, a bunch of Improv, a single drama class. But me in front of a crowd, solo performance for 20 minutes? You gotta be kidding!
Well, I met Joya and really felt like I was in good hands. She has a great balance of being supportive, at the same time as being honest. So I could trust that she wasn’t going to let me go out there and do a terrible performance, and at the same time she wasn’t going to be «old school theater mean» in class. It worked out really nicely – I got great input, great coaching, and developed a lot.
I also noted that Joya paced things really well for me. I have lots of stuff I can work on, and she gave guidance a step at a time, so I never felt overwhelmed.
Also a note about doing solo performance – it’s a great way to develop theatric skills – if you put in the work. I don’t claim any «acting» skills, but I’m getting better at playing the full spectrum of «me» (and some interesting characters I’ve met…) I’m looking forward to doing more work with her.
One more thing – Joya has some video on her website, so if you haven’t met her, you get a rough sense for what she’s like.

Full Spectrum Improvisation is so much more than improv.
I was able to discover my creative voice, develop more self-​expression, and really hone in on how the body is such a vital part of the Self.
Full Spectrum is from the heart, authentic, wise, and more fun that you can imagine.
Through each class and workshop, I took home a great deal of wisdom about who I am, who I pretend to be, and how I can be more Me in this world. Thank you Joya!
Joya is a Master Teacher; wise, wonderful, incredibly insightful, and compassionate.
Join Full Spectrum NOW!

Joya’s ‘Full Spectrum’ improvisation classes and workshops give you just what the name suggests — an opportunity to produce improvised theater across the full spectrum of human emotions. If you want to play games again like when you were a kid, Joya’s the kid who’s always thinking up new games. If you want to push your limits, to challenge the voice of the inner critic that says «you can’t,» Joya can guide you and support you through the process. If you’re a stage performer and want to increase the breadth and depth of your acting and/​or improvisation skills, you will benefit from Joya’s decades of experience. If your current improv class is not quite doing it for you, it’s probably because they’re not taking you through the full range of what you’re capable of, so give Joya a try and see what happens. And if you’re just starting out in improv, I say this is an awesome place to start too.
Every time I’m in class I find myself doing stuff I never really expected to find myself doing. I really enjoy working with the other students Joya attracts and learn as much from them as I do from Joya herself. And another thing I particularly like is the way she so often brings out not just the best improv skills you can muster, but also has you confront that «inner critic» and actually use that discouraging inner voice to help you produce an even more unique and inventive performance.