Peruvian Ball

• Number of participants: 20-50
• Age level: elementary school - adult
• Source: Games for Actors and Non-Actors by Augusto Boal
• Uses: This game is excellent to practice and create dialogue about communications skills and styles, being specific with non-verbal communication, and body language. Also good as a fun all-around energizer and warm-up.

Everyone in the room has an imaginary ball. Each ball has its own special movement pattern, and its own sound. The participants practice "throwing" or "bouncing" the invisible balls by themselves, while simultaneously making the sounds ("boi-oi-oing," "zip-zap," "wheeeee," etc.)

After everyone has the movements and sounds decided, the participants start walking around the space. The facilitator calls "freeze," and then instructs everyone to trade balls with someone. There is no talking allowed, only demonstrating the sounds and movements of the balls.

Once everyone has traded, everyone starts walking around the space again, this time with their new balls. The facilitator calls "freeze" again, and instructs everyone to trade with another person.

After four to six trades have been made (depending on the size of the group), the facilitator instructs everyone to find their original balls. Everyone must then move about, demonstrating the balls they are holding, while searching for the ball they originally created. If a participant finds his ball, he trades with the person who has it, and then takes his ball to the side out of the playing space.

It is rare for everyone to find their original balls in this game. If some people can't find them, ask the participants why. This is a great way to start talking about miscommunications at work, how to give specific instructions, or communicating without words.