Person to Person

• Number of Participants: at least 10
• Age Level: Any
• Source: Traditional Theatre Game
• Uses: breaking through inhibitions, comfort with physical proximity, establishing shared experiences

All participants spread out around the space in pairs. The facilitator calls out two body parts, such as "Head to hand." In each pair, one person puts his hand to the other person's head (there is no need for both people to put hands on heads, only one).

The facilitator then calls out two more body parts, like "Elbow to knee." Without removing the hand from the head, the partners then figure out how to put one elbow to one knee. Then again: "Finger to hip." "Nose to shoulder." "Forehead to forehead."

When the partners are so contorted that they can't seem to do one more, the facilitator calls out "Person to person!" The participants scramble around the room and find new partners, and then start again. If you like, the facilitator can try to find a partner, and then the one person left "out" is the new facilitator.

There are a few things you will want to watch for. Make sure that all touching is appropriate. Also, in some groups of young people, you may notice that one person is ostracized when everyone is choosing partners; if that is the case, you may want to join in the fun and choose that person for your own partner. Always, if there are people who are uncomfortable with this or any activity, allow them to "sit out;" don't interrogate them as to their reasons, but allow them to observe. They may surprise you by wanting to join in as the game gets sillier and more energetic.

Some choose to use this game as an elimination game, in which the last pair standing is the "winner." I prefer not to use elimination games, but to allow the game to proceed without competition.

Ask the participants how they felt at the beginning of the game, when they were first asked to touch each other. Did their opinion or feeling about touching change as the game went on? This is a good way to start talking about body image as well.